Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

January 8
Thursday


EXTRAORDINARY
SHOWERS

READ:
Ezekiel 34:25-31
___________________________________________________________________________________________
There shall be showers
of blessing.
__Ezekiel 34:26
___________________________________________________________________________________________

What do fish, tadpoles, and spiders have in common? They have all fallen from the sky like rain in various parts of the world. Fish fell on the Australian town of Lajamanu. Tadpoles pelted areas of central Japan on multiple occasions. Spiders showered down on the San Bernardo Mountains in Argentina. Although scientists suspect that the wind plays a part in these intriguing showers, no one can fully explain them.

The prophet Ezekiel described a far more extraordinary downpour__a shower of blessing (Ezek. 34:26). Ezekiel spoke of a time when God would send blessings like rain to refresh His people. The Israelites would be safe from enemy nations. They would have enough food, be liberated from slavery, and be freed from shame (vv.27-29). These gifts would revive Israel's relationship with God. the people would know that God was with them, and that "they, the house of Israel, [were His] people" (v.30).

God blesses His modern-day followers too (James 1:17). Sometimes blessings abound like rain; sometimes they trickle in one by one. Whether many or few, the good things we receive come with a message from God: I see your needs. You are mine, and I will care for you. __Jennifer Benson schuldt

`````````````````"There shall be showers of blessing"__
`````````````````````This is the promise of love;
`````````````````There shall be seasons refreshing,
```````````````Sent from the Savior above. __Whittle
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Daily blessings are daily reminders of God.

******************************Today's Bible Reading __ Ezekiel 34:25-31*******************************

25 "I will make a covenant
of peace with them, and
cause wild beasts to cease
from the land; and they will
dwell safely in the
wilderness and sleep in the
woods. 26 I will make them
and the places all around
My hill a blessing; and I
will cause showers to come
down in their season; there
shall be showers of
blessing. 27 Then the trees
of the field shall yield their
fruit, and the earth shall
yield her increase. They
shall be safe in their land;
and they shall know that I
am the LORD, when I have
broken the bands of their
yoke and delivered them
from the hand of those who
enslaved them. 28 And they
shall no longer be a prey for
the nations, nor shall beasts
of the land devour them;
but they shall dwell safely,
and no one shall make them
afraid. 29 I will raise up for
them a garden of renown,
and they shall no longer be
consumed with hunger in
the land, nor bear the shame
of the Gentiles anymore.

30 Thus they shall know that
I, the LORD their God, am
with them, and they, the
house of Israel, are My
people," says the Lord God.

31 "You are My flock, the
flock of My pasture; you
are mine, and I am your
God," says the Lord GOD.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
In today's passage, the prophet Ezekiel offers a message of future
hope and peace to a nation that had suffered defeat and was
living in exile far from their homeland. Ezekiel 34:20-24 speaks
of the shepherd who God will raise up to lead His people in the
wonderful age described in verses 25-31. Jesus calls Himself the
Good Shepherd (John 10:11-18), and the joy and peace described in
Ezekiel 34 are ours only in Him.