July 20 - Joel 3:18

“In that day the mountains will drip new wine, and the hills will flow with milk; all the ravines of Judah will run with water. A fountain will flow out of the LORD’s house and will water the valley of acacias. 

Joel is prophesying about the day when the Lord will reign on earth and everyone will live in peace.

For me, the best part of this verse is being able to fast-forward to Revelation 22.

“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations” (Revelation 22:1-2).

The Ark of the Covenant was made from acacia wood (Deuteronomy 10:3).  This was the vessel which carried the tablets of stone on which God had written the Ten Commandments.

The wood frame for the Tabernacle was made from acacia wood. The poles for the ark were made from acacia wood. The table for the altar of incense and the one for the burnt offerings … all made from acacia wood.

The Law was LIFE for the Israelites.  The Tabernacle was their connection to God.  Joel prophesied that the river which flowed from the Lord’s house would water the valley of acacias, the wood that formed the frame for their lives.

In Revelation, at the finality of history, we see that the River flows from the throne of God watering the Tree of Life for all humanity.

The prophecy in Joel … the building of the Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant in Exodus … the Revelation given by Jesus to John.  God has connected them all for us.  His word is full and complete. He draws everything together with a purpose.