Unexpected Fruit

Years ago we did some composting and was surprised when our pile of scraps yielded a couple of healthy pumpkin vines.  We did not intend for vines to grow from the seeds thrown there, nor had we thought our discards could result in delicious pumpkin pies.  Even as God created seeds to bring forth plants and fruit after their kind, so He would supply salvation and unrighteousness where it was least expected.

In light of the new covenant God would establish through the Messiah Isaiah 61:10-11 reads, "I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. ¹¹ For as the earth brings forth its bud, as the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations."  God sent Jesus to seek and save the lost in Israel, and the Jewish nation would largely reject Him and the Gospel He preached.  From a small group of Jewish believers the message of salvation spread to Gentile nations and many rejoiced to receive it, for they trusted in Jesus Christ as Saviour.

The prophet said as the earth brings forth buds and gardens grow seeds sown in them, so God will cause righteousness to spring forth before all nations.  This miraculous spread of righteousness by faith was seen even in the Old Testament, like when Rahab and her family were spared from the stronghold of Jericho that was doomed for destruction.  The Gibeonites disguised themselves and made a treaty with Joshua because they feared the God of Israel.  Foreign kings like Nebuchadnezzar and Cyrus acknowledged the greatness of the glorious God of Israel who does mighty things.  In these last days the salvation and righteousness of Jesus Christ will spring forth, and we can expect this in unexpected places accompanied with rejoicing in the LORD.

I saw an illustration of unexpected growth and fruitfulness during a trip to Israel at the ruins in Caesarea in 2005.  A palm tree had sprung out of a brick structure, and though it was neglected and untrimmed it flourished.  When I visited the spot 10 years later, there it was!  Here is a picture from my earlier trip.

This palm did not grow by itself but from a seed, and the soul that rejoices in salvation and righteousness received them from the LORD most high.  The speaker in Isaiah 61 said of God, "He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness..."  This is true for everyone who is born again by faith in Jesus, for He has imputed righteousness and granted salvation to us when we were dead in sins and spiritually barren.  God clothed Adam with skins at the cost of the life of an animal, and He clothes those who believe in Jesus with righteousness at the price of His only begotten Son.  His word has gone out to all the nations and even in places that appear dry, barren and impossible He will cause His righteousness and praise to spring forth from the nations.  Glory to God for His goodness and for spreading the Gospel abroad.  Let us praise Him today and always!