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 3:18
This prophecy talks about Israel’s mountains being so full of grapevines that they will “drip new wine,” the hills will be so full of milk-yielding animals that they will “flow with milk,” and the ravines which normally only have water a few days each year “will run with water”. It’s a picture of abundance, fruitfulness and blessing. It’s a picture of what God wants for his people. God wants to bless his people but we block his blessings by demanding our independence.
The reference to a fountain in the Lord’s house is particularly interesting as Jerusalem isn’t near a major river. From Constable’s Commentary: “Jerusalem is the only city of antiquity that wasn’t built near a great river. Rome had the Tiber; Nineveh was built near the Tigris and Babylon on the Euphrates; and the great Egyptian cities were built near the Nile. But in the kingdom, Jerusalem will have a river that proceeds from the temple of God.” Jerusalem won’t be like other great cities but will rely on God’s supernatural provision of water.
It’s a reminder that we aren’t like others, instead, we rely on the supernatural resources of God. His resources are available in abundance yet we’re reluctant receivers. Often we would rather struggle through on our own meagre resources rather than admit our inadequacies and trust in God’s abundant reservoirs of love and grace.
Let’s remind ourselves again of God’s abundant resources and avail ourselves of the opportunity to draw on them.
