Readings for today: Ezekiel 45-48, Psalms 44
If one had to choose a place to plant a new Garden of Eden, the Dead Sea would not be it. It’s one of the most desolate places on earth. It is almost 1500 feet below sea level. It is landlocked with no outlet. It is one of the world’s saltiest bodies of water. It’s a harsh environment where very little can live. Swimming in the Dead Sea is quite an experience. You need water shoes because the salt crystals will tear up your feet. The density of the water is so great, you simply lay back and float. It’s pretty surreal. As you look around you, there is nothing on the shore. No plants. No animals. No fish. No birds. It’s crazy and yet this is where God is going to plant the new Garden of Eden.
The vision of Ezekiel at the end of his book is breathtaking. A river flowing out of the Temple down into the Arabah or Dead Sea, bringing all kinds of life to a region of death. Fish spawn. Animals forage on its banks. Trees spring up. Birds nest. It’s beautiful. Listen to it again. “This water flows out to the eastern region and goes down to the Arabah. When it enters the sea, the sea of foul water, the water of the sea becomes fresh. Every kind of living creature that swarms will live wherever the river flows, and there will be a huge number of fish because this water goes there. Since the water will become fresh, there will be life everywhere the river goes. Fishermen will stand beside it from En-gedi to En-eglaim. These will become places where nets are spread out to dry. Their fish will consist of many different kinds, like the fish of the Mediterranean Sea. Yet its swamps and marshes will not be healed; they will be left for salt. All kinds of trees providing food will grow along both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. Each month they will bear fresh fruit because the water comes from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be used for eating and their leaves for healing.” (Ezekiel 47:8-12 CSB) Only God would choose the most desolate place on earth to make His sanctuary. Only God would choose to make the Dead Sea come to life again. Only God would choose to plant His Garden in an area where nothing can grow. Only God.
What a reminder that nothing is beyond God! No nation is ever past the point of no return. No people is ever too sinful to save. No person is ever beyond the reach of His grace. God specializes in bringing life out of death. Hope out of despair. Restoration out of destruction. He has done it over and over again throughout human history. We actually have a written record of His miraculous acts so we can have confidence that He will do it again. Think about the challenges facing our nation today. We just had an attempted assassination of a presidential candidate. Many of our political leaders have been accused of corruption and even indicted on crimes. Many church leaders are being accused of sexual, emotional, or spiritual abuse. The divisions in our country are sharp and each side feels like their opponents represent an existential threat. It’s hard to see how even God can make sense out of this mess. Think about the challenges many of us face personally as well. The relationships that are strained or broken. The financial stress and pressure. Escalating levels of anxiety, fear, depression, and other mental health issues. Again, it’s hard to see how even God can make sense of our mess. But the overarching message of Ezekiel is that God can make dry bones live. He rebuilds temples that have been destroyed. He plants gardens in the desert. Trust Him. He can do the same for you!
Readings for tomorrow: Ezra 1-3, Psalms 45