3500 years ago the nation of Israel stood at the foot of Mount Sinai prepared to receive all the commands of God in order—as it states in Deuteronomy 5—“that they may do them in the land which I give them to possess...”
According to Jewish legend, at the time of the Giving of the Torah (God’s instructions), the mountain itself burst into full bloom with grass and flowers, almost like a bouquet being presented by God to His beloved people. In the newly given Torah, God warned that disobedience to His instructions would lead to the eventual exile of Israel from the Promised Land which they were about to inherit, but abundant blessings if they chose to follow in His ways. Israel unfortunately chose to walk counter to God’s ways, however, the prophets God sent to His people always spoke about a coming redemption, when God would bring His people back from their exile and dispersion.
As the prophet Amos in chapter 9 prophesied: “I will bring back the captives of My people Israel; They shall build the waste cities and inhabit them; They shall plant vineyards and drink wine from them; They shall also make gardens and eat fruit from them. I will plant them in their land…”
But this promise was not only for Israel… God spoke through the prophet Ezekiel, “the nations shall know that I am the Lord, says the Lord God, “when I am hallowed in you before their eyes. For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land.” The nations of the world now get to see and experience what Israel experienced so long ago at Mount Sinai—God’s promises and power at work in our world. And even as Mount Sinai blossomed and budded so long ago, today, we witness the same, through the words of Ezekiel, “But you, O mountains of Israel, you shall shoot forth your branches and yield your fruit to My people Israel, for they are about to come” and according to Isaiah, “Israel shall blossom and bud, And fill the face of the world with fruit.” We are living in amazing times!
The fruit of Torah and the fruit of the Land of Israel are being shared around the world! Mount Sinai was for the select few, but now the fruit being offered is for all people, if we’ll only join in and take the first bite!
Happy Shavuot!
5 comments
Thank you!
WHAT A BLESSING TO READ THOSE ETERNAL WORDS!
amen! “taste and see that the LORD is good”
What a beautiful message. Praise to our Glorious Lord and Savior and God Bless Israel and all His people!
I don’t think there’s anything that would make me happier than to bite into one of those delicious persimmons from the land of Israel. I so look forward to the day where you can send them via mail.