I have been waiting for this moment for ages! I really hope that this is a word that encourages you, that it reaches the right people in the right time. One of my favourite things is when God gives a word in season.
Several months ago, on our regularly scheduled jaunt south, Pamela and I saw eight eagles in a small area of the state. They were actual, physical, real and flying Wedge-tailed Eagles. The most I have seen in a day, within ¾ of an hour actually.
I have spoken about Golden Eagles (Wedge-tailed Eagles) briefly before- these are one of the species of eagle we have here in Tassie, we also have Sea Eagles, which are the same genus as the Bald Eagle. To have eight in one hit is pretty significant though and although I know what eight means, it has been a long wait until Father actually released it.
There’s an object lesson- don’t say things out of season, it won’t accomplish anything.
By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done. Genesis 2:2-3 (NIV)
The number eight signals the completion of a cycle. Completion in that the cycle has both ended and begun again. God created and rested in seven days according to the account in Genesis, which then means that on the eighth day, the week began again. The process of Creation was complete and it was the beginning of a new ‘week’, a new ‘cycle’, a new ‘season’.
Eight eagles? If you have been waiting for the end of a season, or the beginning of a new one, here is the indication that it has come. The cycling of the seasons. The completion of one season, and the beginning of a new one.
It does not just indicate the beginning of a new season however. Eight is a sign that the whole of last week is gone. In the same way that Saturday is gone as soon as Sunday appears (or Sunday is gone as soon as Monday appears- depending on the way you view your work week). It is a new week. A new week for new work.
He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Revelation 21:5 (NIV)
This complete change in the season, like going to bed on Saturday night and waking up on Monday morning is kinda disturbing. I don’t know how you feel, but it’s like missing the changeover for daylight savings or something. Or this weird weather we’re having here. I don’t know what it’s been like where you live. I’m finding it a little disturbing, not horrible or bad disturbing, just weird.
Here, everything seems to have come early. The dams are all already full (four months early) and it’s still raining. My next door neighbours’ nut trees have already flowered and put out leaves, four months early. All of the natural world seems to be running to another timetable.
I know that it’s God. There has been a significant amount of work done on a number of different levels by many, many people in prayer for a number of years. We are seeing God’s answers, in unexpected ways. These are the same kinds of things that we should be looking for in this next season! Unexpected rain, because instead of Him saying that the new season is coming, He is saying that it has actually arrived. It arrived while we were watching for it, but He snuck it in and we didn’t see it happen!
So now we need to watch as our dams fill up early and our nut trees blossom and shoot out of season, for the early growth of grass, the immediate and pre-emptive arrival of resources.
Trying to find our feet in this season, because it has already arrived will be fun! All those things that we have been looking to do, are suddenly on the agenda. Can we make the shift from anticipation to participation?
Some of us might not even know what God has planned. It might be a brand new horizon, with only brand new things in store! Some of us might know exactly what is needed, and have been ready for this for months, or years, or years and years…
You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Isaiah 55:12 (NIV)
My neighbours nut tree? It’s an almond tree.
God Bless You Very Much
Anita
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord’s renown, for an everlasting sign, that will endure forever.” Isaiah 55:8-13 (NIV)