Day 232

We just spent the weekend with longtime friends who have fully restored the home he grew up in.  It is a beautiful place on a tremendous piece of property.  They could tell you firsthand of the work, planning and money spent to tackle such a project.  He now has a plethora of new stories about planning departments, architects, permits, unrealistic estimates, and on and on.
         There may well be a downside to restoring anything (work, money, etc.), but there is also an upside, and that is the finished project.  God offers restoration (reconciliation, salvation and forgiveness) to us, and in a similar way there was a downside.  A tremendous cost was necessary; the death of His Son, Jesus Christ.
         As you read this week’s passages, note the emphasis on various aspects of restoration.

Ezekiel 17-19. “Hope at the End of the Trial”

         Adolph Hitler was an avid believer in astrology and consulted with his special astrologist before making any decisions.  One day in consulting with him, Hitler asked, “On what day will I die?”  “You will die on a Jewish holiday,” replied the astrologist.  “How can you be so sure of that?” asked Hitler.  “Any day you die will be a Jewish holiday,” replied the astrologist.
         As we continue reading through the books of the prophets, we will frequently be hearing warnings of coming judgment for Israel.  Yet there are statements of hope sprinkled throughout the passages that we dare not miss.  They are wonderful words of inspiration, promise and hope.  In today’s passage Ezekiel prophesies of judgment and then ends with words of hope: And the Sovereign LORD says, “I will take a tender shoot from the top of a tall cedar and I will plant it on the top of Israel’s highest mountain.  It will become a noble cedar…” (17:22).
         Occasionally the time of hope is many years away (like this passage referring to the time of the Messiah), but hope is nonetheless there.  There is hope.

General Questions for each day:
Summarize the day’s Bible passage in your own words.
What thoughts, actions, attitudes or beliefs are addressed in the passage?
How is the Holy Spirit leading you to apply this passage to your life today?