Readings for today: Ezekiel 37-40
The people of Israel represent one of history’s great anomalies. There is no human reason they should continue to exist. There is no earthly reason why there should be a nation of Israel today. She has faced extinction level events so many times throughout her history. So many nations have sought her destruction over the centuries. Egypt. Canaan. Assyria. Babylon. Those are just the ones mentioned in the Bible. In modern times, one only has to look at the pogroms in Europe or Russia or the Middle East. The fact that she not only has survived but also thrives is truly a miracle. A sign of God’s great love and faithfulness. A sign that God’s covenant endures forever.
Does that mean Israel never errs? Of course not. The Bible is honest about her many failings. It’s why God withdrew His protective hand when the pagan nations around her attacked. It’s why God allowed Jerusalem to be destroyed. It’s why God sent His people into exile in Babylon. He judged them in righteousness for their idolatry, corruption, greed, injustice, and oppression. He never gives them a pass. He doesn’t have a blind spot when it comes to His people. He sees all. He knows all. And He refuses to let their sin go unpunished. By the way, this is as true today as it has ever been for God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
However, having said all that, it is equally clear God’s ultimate goal for Israel is restoration. Even while they are in exile, He works tirelessly for their return. He gives Ezekiel visions of dry bones coming together into living, breathing bodies. Two sticks with the names of Judah and Joseph upon them. God shows the prophet a vision of a new Temple and even takes him on a virtual tour of the building so he can see all God will one day do when He brings His people home from exile. It’s a powerful reminder of God’s faithfulness to Himself, His promises, and His people. Listen again to Ezekiel’s description. “Now I will restore the fortunes of Jacob and have compassion on the whole house of Israel, and I will be jealous for my holy name. They will feel remorse for their disgrace and all the unfaithfulness they committed against me, when they live securely in their land with no one to frighten them. When I bring them back from the peoples and gather them from the countries of their enemies, I will demonstrate my holiness through them in the sight of many nations. They will know that I am the Lord their God when I regather them to their own land after having exiled them among the nations. I will leave none of them behind. I will no longer hide my face from them, for I will pour out my Spirit on the house of Israel. This is the declaration of the Lord God.” (Ezekiel 39:25-29 CSB)
I will restore Jacob and the whole house of Israel. I will bring them back from the countries of their enemies. I will regather them to their own land. I will leave none behind. I will no longer hide my face. I will pour out my Spirit. This is the declaration of the Lord. These are incredibly powerful words that will be fulfilled when Ezra returns to rebuild the Temple and Nehemiah returns to rebuild the wall. Not only that but we see the same dynamic taking place throughout history as God preserves and protects His people, refusing to let them be finally destroyed. The Jewish people have endured so much over the centuries. They have been harassed and attacked and targeted by almost every society on earth. Blamed for all kinds of terrible things. Cast as the nefarious subjects of all kinds of crazy conspiracy theories. And still they survive when other people groups and cultures have come and gone. Where is Babylon today? Where is Assyria today? Where are the Canaanite tribes today? Still Israel remains. Why? Because God is faithful.
Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays