How God Restores Wasted Years
In Israel, there were two rainy seasons known respectively as the former and latter rain. Amazingly, in this passage, the Father is saying He would cause a convergence of both the latter and former rains in one month resulting in a supernatural harvest that would replenish all that was lost, stolen, or destroyed in past seasons.
“Be glad then, you children of Zion, And rejoice in the LORD your God; For He has given you the former rain faithfully, And He will cause the rain to come down for you— The former rain, And the latter rain in the first month” (Joel 2:23 NKJV).
Such restoration is truly a miraculous experience that surpasses natural limitations. God wants to restore your wasted years so that you experience all of His promises and blessings. “And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten…” (Joel 2:25).
How is this possible? How could such a thing occur?
God by nature is supernatural, meaning that though He created the laws of nature, He is not subject to them in any way. Time and space cannot restrict His workings. He can override the laws of nature anytime He wants to.
The Law of Shmita
We see this principle illustrated in the law of shmita, also called the sabbatical year, the seventh year of the seven-year agricultural cycle mandated by the Torah for the Land of Israel. During shmita, the land is to lie fallow and all agricultural activity, including plowing, planting, pruning, and harvesting is strictly forbidden by Jewish law. Observing the sabbatical year was clearly a test of faith. What would the people eat during the seventh year, since they were forbidden to plant or harvest crops in the sixth year?
The LORD assures them that He is able to transcend natural constraints:
“Be assured that I will send my blessing for you in the sixth year, so the land will produce a crop large enough for three years. When you plant your fields in the eighth year, you will still be eating from the large crop of the sixth year. In fact, you will still be eating from that large crop when the new crop is harvested in the ninth year” (Leviticus 25:21-22 NLT).
Today, the LORD has promised to restore our wasted years. He merely says the word and fills the remaining days of our lives with limitless blessings. It’s like we never lost a thing!
Great message Pastor Glenn