This chapter contains a parable of two eagles that each transplant part of a tree – one causes its remnant to flourish, while the other causes its transplant to wither and die.
” ‘…A great eagle with great wings and long pinions, rich in plumage of many colors, came to Lebanon and took the top of the cedar. He broke off the topmost of its young twigs and carried it to a land of trade and set it in a city of merchants. Then he took of the seed of the land and planted it in fertile soil. He placed it beside abundant waters… and it sprouted and became a low spreading vine, and its branches turned toward him… So it became a vine and produced branches and put out boughs.’ ” (v3-6 abr)
The two eagles are God and the king of Babylon. The remnant of Israel under the world’s care withers and dies because they are rebellious and disobey God’s command(s). God then chooses a new remnant, one who will obey His command(s) and flourish.
Have we ever rebelled against God? This is of course a trick question, because the Bible says all have sinned (rebelled). Has our sin brought us bountiful blessing and spiritual nourishment? Not likely, no – at least not directly.
God longs for us to receive the full blessing and joy of His sustaining presence. God is a gardener, Jesus is the vine, and we are the branches (see Jn 15:1-11). A branch that is disconnected from the vine (Jesus), cannot flourish and bear fruit. Nor can a branch who is connected to the vine, but not tended closely by God, bear much fruit. Even a branch connected to the vine and tended by the gardener cannot flourish without water, sunlight, and nutrients (the inner working of the Holy Spirit). We must have close relationship with the holy Trinity in order to flourish fully.
Who do we trust to help us flourish – God, or this broken world which is severely marred by our sin? I strongly suggest rooting ourselves in Christ, allowing God to tend us, and the Holy Spirit to nurture us – I believe we’ll die of spiritual malnutrition if we rely on this messed-up world to meet our intrinsic needs.
Father God, our Creator and Savior, the one who uplifts and sustains us, thank you for Your abundant provision. Please help us toe remain rooted in Jesus, and receive the nourishment of Your Spirit. Please teach us to value Your care and pruning so that we may be fruitful for Your purposes. May we humbly submit to Your will and ways, every moment of every day, for the benefit of all Your people, amen.
~ Conqueror in Training