Ezekiel 35-37

Posted on Sep 8, 2016 in Reading the Bible in 2016 |

Thursday  

I don’t know about you but I really dislike people when they gloat, and apparently God doesn’t like it much either.
Edom, whose people live on Mount Seir, have been making fun over the troubles that Judah, God’s chosen people, have been going through as a result of their punishment. I remember kids in school laughing over someone getting in trouble and being paddled for doing something wrong (yes, when I went to school punishment was quick and it was painful). It was like a big joke to them. Well, it is only a matter of time before trouble will find their door and that is what Ezekiel is telling the Edomites. You laughed at Judah during its time of trouble, well, your punishment is going to be bad, very bad. It makes me realize again the message God has given to the world, that we (the USA) need to stand side by side with Israel and not turn our backs on them. In Genesis 12:3, the Lord says in the covenant He makes with Abraham:

“I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

 God is furious with the neighboring countries that have ridiculed Israel and so he is preparing “their own shame to endure.” (36:7) I think we are looking at our own shame to endure, because of our neglect to Israel and I fear that it is going to be soon.

In chapter 36 it also goes on to say that God has some good news for Israel. There will be restoration. They may have endured hardships and suffering as they were “attacked from all directions” and made “the property of many nations and the object of much mocking and slander.” (36:4) God does not want to destroy Judah or Israel. What He wants is to bring them to the place where they will repent of their wickedness and turn to Him again as their Lord and Savior. That is exactly what He wants for us.  God wants to restore us. But be sure that He is doing it not because we deserve it, but because God wants to “show how holy My Great Name is.” (36:23) God is restoring Israel so that the surrounding nations will see what a great and mighty God, our Lord is. And when He brings them back, He will clean them and wash away their filth.

God also promises to send His Spirit to us, to change our stubborn hearts of stone, into hearts of that are “tender and responsive.” This is what Paul is saying to the Corinthians in 2 Cor 5:17. Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person.” In Romans, Paul says “we will be transformed.” When we turn our lives over to Christ, we are given the gift of the Holy Spirit to help keep our hearts and minds focused on loving and worshipping God.

But all of this we must remember is a gift from God. We cannot do this on our own, we are too weak, too stubborn, too wicked. That is what God is telling His Chosen people.

All of Israel’s restoration and ours as well, is done so that the world will know; that God, the great I am, is the Sovereign Lord.

Sharing the message

Pastor Kathy

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