Mensa Otabil - When God Plants Your Field (09/27/2025)
Well, last week I preached from Isaiah chapter 41, verses 17 to 20, and I focused on verse 18. I titled my message «When God Opens the Tap.» Today we will return to the same passage, focusing my message on verse 19, which I have titled «When God Plants Your Field.» I believe God is able to plant fields or trees in our desert places. Not only does He provide water, but He brings systems and structures; He plants our fields. May the Lord plant your field and cause it to blossom.
So, Isaiah chapter 41, verses 17 to 20: «The poor and needy seek water, but there is none; their tongues fail for thirst. I, the Lord, will hear them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them. I will open rivers in desolate heights and fountains in the midst of the valleys. I will make the wilderness a pool of water and the dry land springs of water. I will plant in the wilderness the cedar and the acacia tree, the myrtle and the oil tree. I will set in the desert the cypress tree, the pine, and the box tree together, that they may see and know and consider and understand together that the hand of the Lord has done this, the Holy One of Israel has created it.»
When God visits His people, the first thing we noticed last week is that He opens up water for them. He speaks about rivers in desolate heights, fountains in the valleys, pools in the wilderness, and springs in dry land. Today, as we focus on the next verse, we want to examine what God does in our lives after He waters the land.
I’ll read verse 19 again: «I will plant in the wilderness the cedar and the acacia tree, the myrtle and the oil tree. I will set in the desert the cypress tree, the pine, and the box tree together.»
What God shows Isaiah, which Isaiah proclaims in this oracle, is that God is visiting His people. In this visitation, He provides water to land that is thirsty. Not only are the people thirsty, but the land itself is thirsty, and God waters it from the mountain to the valley, to the wilderness. Every spot receives a visitation from God, and I pray that every area of your life will receive a watering from God. God knows how to reach you at the height; He knows how to reach you in the valley; He knows how to reach you in the field; He knows how to reach you in the dry land.
Then, after God waters the land, verse 19 tells us the next thing He does: «I will plant.» I like that. In verse 18, He says, «I will water,» and in verse 19, «I will plant.» The God who waters also plants. Today, I just want to encourage you to know that God is planting in your field—the field that was dry and empty, where there was no activity. God is about to break loose in your field, and there will be a planting. In this passage, He mentions He will plant trees, and I will take time to explain what that means.
If you go through the sequence of trees, there are seven: the cedar, the acacia, the myrtle, the oil tree, the cypress, the pine, and the box tree. If you understand the geography of the biblical lands, you would know that these trees are not typical fruit-bearing trees. Normally, when we read in the Bible, we find grapes, the vine, the olive tree, the pomegranate, apples, or almonds, but none of these trees produce fruit.
So, God says, «I will plant trees,» but these trees are not for fruit-bearing. They serve two purposes: first, they provide shade and a covering. When God waters the land, He says He will plant trees that provide shade. The second thing to note about these trees, if you study the Bible further, is that they are timber trees used for construction. Most of them were used in building the tabernacle and the temple.
So, what God is saying is that when He has watered the land, He will bring shade and trees for construction. If God says He’s going to plant these trees, it means something significant will take place after the planting. Construction is about to happen because these are people who have been displaced, and God is about to reconstruct their lives. He puts in the trees necessary for this reconstruction.
So, when God sees a desert—dry land, unproductive land—He provides refreshing water and the trees for shade and construction. The trees represent God’s people and provision. God plants His people in areas that used to be dry and infertile. You and I are the trees that God is planting; He is positioning us in places where nothing used to grow, where nothing worked. But in this season, there is a coming watering and a planting. May the Lord plant you as a tree in the desert land, and may you flourish.
When God plants people, they are able to do things that were previously considered impossible. Many times, when I look at the continent of Africa, it seems like a desert; nothing grows here. It’s amazing that so much investment is poured into our continent, yet nothing of significance seems to thrive. People of consequence don’t seem to flourish; it appears as if the land cannot support livelihoods. But I came here to announce to Africa that God is about to water this continent and plant trees that will survive, grow, and thrive. A new generation of Africans is coming who will be planted upon this continent, and our desert years are coming to an end.
If you believe God wants to plant you, put your hand on your head wherever you are and say, «Lord, plant me.» May the Lord plant you as an individual, but God doesn’t just plant people; He also plants systems and structures—things that can sustain the people He’s planting. What good is it for God to plant you if there’s nothing to support you? The trees represent what God is planting: people and the structures that support them.
When you closely examine verse 19, when it mentions all these seven trees, it includes the pine tree and the box tree «together.» The word «together» is very important. These seven trees God said He would plant are trees that you wouldn’t typically find together; you would find one here, another there. They didn’t even belong to the land where God was planting them; they were often foreign trees. But God says, «I will bring things from different places and make them work together in this land.»
The essence of the message is that God will bring together structures and systems from various parts and cause them to work together for His people. In the season we have entered, it’s going to be a season of synthesis. When we say it’s a season of synthesis, it means God will bring things from different places and make them work together for the good of His people.
Things that never worked together will now work together. Don’t be surprised when God causes people who hated each other to start collaborating. Nations that could never work together will begin to cooperate. In our continent, we’ve struggled to unite; Ghana can’t even work with Togo or Burkina Faso. When we talk about African unity, it almost seems like an impossible mirage. But let us trust God that in this nation and this season, He will bring us to a place where the trees will work together—where tribes in Ghana will cooperate.
The systems of Ghana can work together. Where our systems may have failed, we speak life to them, that they will function because if they don’t, there is no life. If we fail to bring these separate trees together, there will be no forest. A forest isn’t merely the planting of one tree; it is the coming together of many trees. May the Lord cause us to become that forest.
Isaiah tells us that God will plant these trees. Interestingly, none of these trees are fruit-bearing. The fruit-bearing trees are planted by the people. In Isaiah chapter 65, later on—this is now Isaiah 65, verses 21 to 22—"They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat; for as the days of a tree shall be the days of my people. My elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.»
There are some things God plants, and some things we plant. God planted the trees for construction, but the houses will be built by the people; God is telling you there are things He will do to favor you, but there are things you must do to take advantage of the favor He provides. He gives you the trees that are timber, and you will plant the trees that produce fruit.
Thus, He says in chapter 65 that you will build the houses, and you will plant the vineyards, which are fruit-bearing trees. There are things God does, and there are things we do. God doesn’t completely solve our problems; He provides opportunities for us to solve them. He gives us space and systems, and we must take advantage and build, plant, and do our part.
As an individual, there are things God will open for you. I believe that after these 40 days of power, there will be supernatural incursions in your life. Doors will open, access will be granted, and God will bring people together to favor you. Those who once hated you will start working in your favor. When all of this happens, don’t fold your arms and say, «Oh, God has done it all.» He’s telling you, «I have given you the timber; build. I have given you the trees; plant the fruit trees.»
We have entered a season where God is doing mighty things for His people, but He is not doing everything entirely for His people. May the Lord plant you; may He plant trees in your field; may He give you timber to build and to construct; may He give you shade to plant your vineyards. May the Lord send you the right people to help you build your future.
For the young people I’m speaking to—when I say young people, I mean those aged 35 and younger—if you fall within that age group, rise up and take your stand because you are the generation God is planting to change our environment. I pray that God will plant you, young men and women, in industries and fields where you will accomplish what your fathers could not. What our leaders have neglected, you will achieve in the name of Jesus.
I prophesy to you, young men and women: may you be a generation of builders; may you be a generation of planters. I speak the spirit of the planter and the spirit of the builder over you in the name of Jesus. You will not repeat the mistakes of the elders; you are a new generation, and you will be different. Because of you, our land will prosper; because of you, Africa will rejoice; Ghana will rejoice, and God will visit His people.
Some of you may say, «Pastor, what about those of us who are above 35?» By the way, I’m about 35 too, so for those of us between 35 and 50—if you’re between those ages, put your hand on your head wherever you are. I speak renewal over your life; where your dreams have been shattered, God will restore you. Where you have been dry, He will plant new trees for you and give you new opportunities. May you become part of the army God is raising for this time.
I command the spirit of the planter and the spirit of the builder over you for those aged 35 to 50. Say with me, «I am a planter; I am a builder.»
Now, this leaves those of us who are older. If you are between 50 and 80, rise where you are and put your hand on your head. The spirit of God is also coming upon you; the young men will see visions, and the old men will dream dreams. You will not miss your visitation. I declare the spirit of a planter over you, the spirit of those who have gone ahead in age. In Jesus' mighty name, time will work in your favor. The dreams of your youth shall be manifested in your latter years.
I declare that in the next few years, God will accelerate the process of bringing you to fulfillment and perfection. What you dreamt in your heart will become a reality. I speak the spirit of a planter and a builder over you. If you believe this, say, «I am a planter; I am a builder.»
May the visitation of God touch our generations—the older generation, the middle-aged, and the young. May God do mighty works with us; may He plant us as builders for the future. In Jesus' name, amen.
If you believe this, lift your hands to God and thank Him for making you a planter and builder. He says you will build houses, and no one will take advantage of you. You will plant fields, and no one will steal your fruit. May the Lord, who waters our garden, plant us, and may He who has planted us cause us to build and to plant. May He enable us to accomplish things for His glory.
We speak the same grace upon the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. God will plant His church. Sometimes I speak to pastors who are concerned about their churches surviving after the pandemic; your church will not only survive, but it will grow, increase, and flourish. God did not allow this situation to destroy you; He brought it to increase and prosper you.
May the Lord make you a builder and a planter in this time and season. In Jesus' name, amen.
Father, we thank You for Your visitation, which makes us planters and builders. We thank You that in this season, You are lifting us to new heights and levels. May Your Spirit flow into our lives and water the dry lands. May fountains arise in the valleys. We pray, Father, that You plant the right trees, systems, and people in our lives and communities. May You use us to become builders and planters in our generation. In Jesus' name, amen.