Definition: And I called for a drought upon the land, and upon the mountains, and upon the corn, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil, and upon [that] which the ground bringeth forth, and upon men, and upon cattle, and upon all the labour of the hands.
Explanation:
Okay, let’s break down this verse from Haggai 1:11. It’s a really important passage about God’s plan for Israel and its future. Here’s what it means in simpler terms:
The Basic Idea:
God is sending a serious problem – a drought – to the land, including the crops, livestock, and people themselves. He's essentially saying, "You need to take action now to fix this."
Let’s unpack each part:
“And I called for a drought upon the land…”
This means God is actively
causing
a period of hardship – a severe lack of rain and water – to occur. It's not just a coincidence; it's deliberate.
“…and upon the mountains, and upon the corn, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil, and upon [that] which the ground bringeth forth…”
This is where it gets more specific. God is instructing people to focus on
everything
that comes from the land – everything they cultivate:
Corn:
This is a staple crop for many people.
New Wine:
Refers to wine, often used in celebration and as a gift.
Oil:
Used for fragrance, healing, and as a symbol of God’s presence.
“That which the ground bringeth forth”
– This is a general phrase referring to all the produce from the fields – everything that grows.
“…and upon men, and cattle, and upon all the labour of the hands.”
This is the
most important
part. God isn’t just focusing on the crops; he's calling for a
restored
effort - a renewed commitment to work hard. It means he wants people to return to their tasks – farming, building, and working – with a renewed sense of purpose.
Overall Meaning:
Haggai 1:11 is essentially a call to repentance and action. God is saying that
he
is causing a drought, and he’s asking the people to respond by putting their work back into motion to rebuild what was broken. It’s a plea for restoration and a reminder of God's plan for Israel.
In short, it’s about a serious problem being set in motion, and the importance of getting back to work to fix it.
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Do you want me to:
Explain any of these terms further?
Give an example of what this verse might have been used for in ancient Israel?
Discuss the context of this verse within Haggai’s prophecy?