Consider now from this day and upward, from the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, even from the day that the foundation of the LORD'S temple was laid, consider it. Is the seed yet in the barn? yea, as yet the vine, and the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive tree, hath not brought forth: from this day will I bless you.
Haggai 2:18-19
As we again look at this third vision of Haggai it seems to have almost a contradictory statement. Notice what God had just said to the people. "Then answered Haggai, and said, So is this people, and so is this nation before me, saith the LORD; and so is every work of their hands; and that which they offer there is unclean." (Haggai 2:14) After this they are reminded that when they went to their storehouses they found half to forty percent of what they thought they would get. Why, then, does God change directions and proclaim a blessing on them in verse 19?
During the three months between message one, Haggai Chapter 1, and the third message, Haggai 2:10-19, the people followed the directions of God. They were clearly told, "Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways." (1:7) This is a similar message we are given in the New Testament. "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?" (2 Corinthians 13:5) The only true way to do this is allow the Holy Spirit to speak to us about our relationship with Jesus and then, through godly sorrow, turn and make corrections while confessing our sin and frailty. The people in Haggai's day did consider their ways and they began immediately to correct their indifference towards God and His temple and this was shown by their obedience in laying the foundation stones. Since they had now sought to rectify the situation with all of their heart, God started the cleansing process and sent the blessings they needed.
In closing, think of Jacob wrestling with the Angel of the Lord. Christ, in pre-incarnate form, asked Jacob one simple question that Jacob seemed reluctant to answer. " What is thy name? And he said, Jacob." (Genesis 32:27b) Jacob means a deceiver. Who wouldn't want others to know a name like that and especially Jesus? However, upon confession his name is changed and the blessing in conferred upon him. Is there anything in your life where you are deceiving yourself thereby? You know what it is. It is that thing that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind. Repent, there is a blessing waiting. The blessing of full fellowship with God.
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