Prophesy

 

Here's a picture of our new town. Part of the mountain juts out from where I was standing and would block the view of our building, but we live outside of the town to the right.

The protests here are continuing and there seems to be no sign of a new government forming anytime soon.  It's making things difficult economically for everyone and many people are losing their jobs or getting half pay. We talked to our director and told him that if we would be putting our children in danger by moving during this time, we would wait it out in Beirut.  But if it was only going to be difficult moving to a smaller town (because supplies won't reach them as quickly, the road there has been frequently closed during the protest, etc) we weren't trying to avoid troubles.   No one seemed to be worried about danger for us, just difficulties.  So, we have moved!   Just in the week here, we have seen some of the struggles they spoke of, all of the atm's in town have been out of money (and there aren't any banks here) and gas stations have been on strike.  We don't have a car yet, but the furnace to heat our living room burns diesel.  (We have been able to get both money and diesel but it's just been harder).   We don't know when things might begin to turn around, but this week I was reading through the minor prophets and was struck by the words in Haggai: Then on October 17 of that same year,[a] the Lord sent another message through the prophet Haggai. 2 “Say this to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Jeshua[b] son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of God’s people there in the land: 3 ‘Does anyone remember this house—this Temple—in its former splendor? How, in comparison, does it look to you now? It must seem like nothing at all! 4 But now the Lord says: Be strong, Zerubbabel. Be strong, Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people still left in the land. And now get to work, for I am with you, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 5 My Spirit remains among you, just as I promised when you came out of Egypt. So do not be afraid.’ 6 “For this is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: In just a little while I will again shake the heavens and the earth, the oceans and the dry land. 7 I will shake all the nations, and the treasures of all the nations will be brought to this Temple. I will fill this place with glory, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 9 The future glory of this Temple will be greater than its past glory, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. And in this place I will bring peace. I, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken!” Haggai 2:1-9 Not all of the versions have the date and use instead the Jewish calendar as listed in the original text.  The text grabbed me though because the version I was reading did use a date from a modern calendar.  It happens to coincide with the date the revolution here began, October 17th.  The people cry out because this country, in comparison, does not display it's former splendor.  It seems like nothing at all to many of the people whose grandparents lived when it was considered the Paris of the Middle East.  It was a sought after place to live and visit... but not anymore.  Now the people here are trying to migrate anywhere they can get jobs, anywhere they have clean water and reliable electricity.   I do not claim that these prophecies were intended for Lebanon.  I am praying that the future glory will be greater even than it's past.  I'm praying for a revival here, not in temples made by man, but in each soul.  We desire for each person to reflect the image of God.  I am praying for peace for this place.  As chapter 2 continues, it mentions the blessings that will come on December 18th.  Again, I don't claim that those promises were for here, but my heart goes out to the people here who are longing for the former splendor of days past.  I pray that those still left in the land may be strong, and get to work... but most of all, I pray that they feel God's Spirit with them.   A view across the Beqaa Valley to the mountains that are the border to Syria.