Yet gleaning grapes will be left in it, like the shaking of an olive tree, two or three olives at the top of the uppermost bough, four or five in its most fruitful branches, says the Lord God of Israel. Isaiah 17:6
During harvesting of some fruit that grows on a tree, such as olives, one can pick at them and then will often shake the tree to get the rest off the tree. Even after shaking the tree, there are usually a few left on the tree that will not come off. Those are ones determined to stay on.
Isaiah quotes God in talking about a shaking of Israel that will occur. The illustration of shaking an olive tree that will leave a few olives at the top represents as Israel is shaken, there will be a few believers left.
Nations that are filled with people who follow God, as a whole, will have God’s hand of favor upon them. Throughout history there have been many nations that did follow God for a time. However, many of those same nations have chosen to reject God as a whole.
When a nation rejects God, He begins to shake them and takes His hand of favor from them. Even in the shaking, there are still some in the nation who have chosen to continue to follow God and not follow the ways of the world.
Olives will hold on to the branch, knowing where the source of life is coming from. Just as there are always a few olives hanging on to the branches when there is a shaking, there will be a remnant of believers left. True believers will know where their source of life is coming from and hold on to God. They will not reject God in a time of shaking or judgement.
You probably live in a nation that is choosing to reject God. As a result, God is shaking your nation economically, in nature and other ways. During this shaking you have a choice to make as to whether you will hold on to God or reject God and fall away.
Keep God as the true source of your life and hold on to His ways of living and His promises. Obey His commands and have true life. Be the remnant of a few olives that will not give in to the ways of this world.
Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will hold on to God during times of shaking; that God will give you strength to resist giving in to the ways of this world; that you will be a part of God’s remnant of believers; and that God will give you an abundant life.
Picture by Emre on Unsplash
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