“Then all the trees of the field will know that I, Adonai, have brought down the high tree, exalted the lowly tree, dried up the green tree, and made the dry tree flourish. I, Adonai, have spoken and I will do it.””

‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭17:24‬ ‭TLV‬‬

“Don’t count me out.”

The phrase echoed in my mind today as soon as I read the story of the two eagles and the falling away of His people. At the end of the allegory of the eagles, the message is this: I make the dry tree flourish. 

The Hebrew word die “dry” in this passage – yāḇēš – is used 9 times in the Old Testament – one being the famous passage about dry bones found later in Ezekiel 37. The word means dried up completely – like dried grapes or chaff blown easily by the wind. It’s also a word used to signify impending judgement. 

The passage here says that He makes the dry tree flourish or bear fruit. That which looks like it should NOT have fruit will have fruit. In other words, don’t count me out. It may look like I’m dead on the outside. Others may think that nothing good will come from me – heck, I may think of feel that – but He has the final word. Period. 

He can and He WILL make the dry tree flourish and therein lies my hope and your hope. He is not finished. He will have the final word. And He will bring forth fruit from the dry places in our lives. Don’t give up hope. When we least expect it, and at just the right time, fruit will appear in the place we once thought was dead. 

Father – thank You for Your Word and how You encourage me. Thank You for how You love and teach me. You are good and You keep doing good. Your leadership in my life is perfect and You can be trusted. Amen. 

Daily Reading: Ezekiel 16-17

August 31, 2022