Virtually anywhere in Vancouver we can see the North Shore Mountains. They stand about 1800m/5800ft high and, though not the highest mountains around, they surely are awe-inspiring. There’s something about mountains that makes us feel small but not crushed, weak but not powerless, humbled but no humiliated.

Ezekiel 36, verses 8-12, paints a similar picture. Ezekiel, in all his quirkiness, speaks to the mountains of Israel (v.8) and promises them a time of prosperity like never before. The Lord would fill the slopes with fruitful trees and multiply the number of animals living there, the land would be fully cultivated and the cities would burst with people, and God’s people would finally take possession of their inheritance (v.9-12). This sight should inspire on the people of Israel the same feelings we all experience when looking at mountains: small but not crushed, weak but not powerless, humbled but no humiliated. For Israel would soon come home (v.8), and so will we! All is well in the mountains of Israel!

Praise the Lord for his promises and pray that his kingdom may come sooner rather than later.