The Planted of God

God spoke a parable through the prophet Ezekiel of two eagles and a vine.

These were eagles of great stature and pomp. The first eagle, Nebuchadnezzar, came and plucked off the top portion and planted it in the city of merchants (Babylon), but instead of growing into a cedar, it grew into a low growing vine. In other words it never reached its potential.

A second eagle, Pharaoh, came and the vine bent its roots and reached its branches toward the eagle. And this eagle took it and planted it in good soil with plenty of water, but it still remained a vine. In other words it never became what it desired; instead it withered and died.

Then the Lord God came and took from the top of the tree, but it wasn’t the princes or nobles, rather it was those tender to the ways of God. And God planted them on His mountain and they became great, providing both food and shelter.

“I will take also one of the highest branches of the high cedar and set it out. I will crop off from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one … On the mountain height of Israel I will plant it; and it will bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a majestic cedar. Under it will dwell birds of every sort; in the shadow of its branches they will dwell.” (Ezekiel 17:22-23)

When we plant for God we must be careful to partner with Him only. We need to beware of those who want to come and highjack God’s best for their own needs. As God’s church we must be careful not to reach out to this program or methodology to secure success.

Instead we should be looking toward God, to have soft and tender hearts allowing Him to plant us in His mountain, in the good and best ground where we can produce a great harvest, and be those oaks of righteousness.