GOD’S IDENTITY AT STAKE
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Opening Prayer
Father, I live because you give me breath and sustain me. Help me each moment to trust in your goodness and faithfulness.
Read EZEKIEL 36:16–38
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
Israel’s Restoration Assured
16 Again the word of the Lord came to me: 17 “Son of man, when the people of Israel were living in their own land, they defiled it by their conduct and their actions. Their conduct was like a woman’s monthly uncleanness in my sight. 18 So I poured out my wrath on them because they had shed blood in the land and because they had defiled it with their idols. 19 I dispersed them among the nations, and they were scattered through the countries; I judged them according to their conduct and their actions. 20 And wherever they went among the nations they profaned my holy name, for it was said of them, ‘These are the Lord’s people, and yet they had to leave his land.’ 21 I had concern for my holy name, which the people of Israel profaned among the nations where they had gone.
22 “Therefore say to the Israelites, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: It is not for your sake, people of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you have gone. 23 I will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Sovereign Lord, when I am proved holy through you before their eyes.
24 “‘For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. 25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. 28 Then you will live in the land I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God. 29 I will save you from all your uncleanness. I will call for the grain and make it plentiful and will not bring famine upon you. 30 I will increase the fruit of the trees and the crops of the field, so that you will no longer suffer disgrace among the nations because of famine. 31 Then you will remember your evil ways and wicked deeds, and you will loathe yourselves for your sins and detestable practices. 32 I want you to know that I am not doing this for your sake, declares the Sovereign Lord. Be ashamed and disgraced for your conduct, people of Israel!
33 “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: On the day I cleanse you from all your sins, I will resettle your towns, and the ruins will be rebuilt. 34 The desolate land will be cultivated instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass through it. 35 They will say, “This land that was laid waste has become like the garden of Eden; the cities that were lying in ruins, desolate and destroyed, are now fortified and inhabited.” 36 Then the nations around you that remain will know that I the Lord have rebuilt what was destroyed and have replanted what was desolate. I the Lord have spoken, and I will do it.’
37 “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Once again I will yield to Israel’s plea and do this for them: I will make their people as numerous as sheep, 38 as numerous as the flocks for offerings at Jerusalem during her appointed festivals. So will the ruined cities be filled with flocks of people. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’
God reveals himself through his actions in the world, but it is easy to misunderstand what he is doing. Many who experience suffering conclude that God does not care for them. Others see him as a killjoy for prohibiting certain lifestyles that promise fulfillment and happiness. The ancient world was prone to a different misunderstanding: that the prosperity and strength of a nation indicated the power of their god. Thus, when God removed the people of Israel from his land because they defiled it with their sins, the surrounding nations inevitably concluded that he was too weak to save his people (vv. 18–20). So often, we misunderstand God’s character because we do not get the full picture and God’s larger purposes. It is also true that the sins of God’s people, even if indirectly (as here), can obscure his character.
Yet, a refrain running throughout Ezekiel’s prophecies is that ‘then you/they [Israel, the nations] will know that I am the Lord’.2 God wants to be known as he truly is. Thus, he will vindicate his reputation when he restores Israel. The spectacular fruitfulness of the land, resembling the idyllic image of Eden, will leave the nations in no doubt about God’s control over events (vv. 35, 36). Even more importantly, God will renew the relationship with his people by dealing with past sin and enabling their obedience (vv. 25–27). What incredible power that transforms the stubborn human heart!
Israel, however, might draw a different conclusion from God’s restoration if the people were complacent (as some were).3 They could mistakenly interpret it as vindication and proof of their special status. However, God’s Word, through Ezekiel, guides them to interpret the Lord’s actions correctly. His undeserved grace is to produce humility and true remorse in the people over the awfulness of their sin (v. 31).
Apply
In thinking of your own circumstances, might there be times when you assumed credit for things for which God deserved the glory?
Closing prayer
Lord, help me to know you more deeply through your Word; open my eyes to better see your work in the world—and help me to respond to you in humility.
1 Ps 46:10. 2 e.g., Ezek 6:7; 22:16; 37:13, 28. 3 Ezek 33:24.
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