Fear No Fear

(All scripture from Lexham English Bible, Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software)

God doesn’t abandon His children, though the same cannot be said of us. God starts by telling Ezekiel to prophesy to the mountains, to the valleys. Because the enemies of Israel had tried to take possession of the Land, and because they had gloated over Israel’s downfall, the Lord would bring judgment. The Land may have been made desolate, but the mountains, the rivers, the valleys, the desolate wastes, and the forsaken cities would ALL be restored. They would see the people of Israel inhabit them again – this was an impossible dream in the time God prophesied it. He would raise His hand against those who had shamed the Land. He would look after His people in their captivity and return them. He would make the Land sown and tilled again. He would multiply the Land into prosperity. Men and beasts would walk on it again. The Land would be their inheritance. Israel would be renewed. They defiled the Land, but God would restore both men and the Land. He would NOT do this for their sake, but for the sake of His Holy Name which nations have profaned because of Israel’s fall. He would take them from where they were scattered, cleanse them, give them a heart of flesh, and put His Spirit inside them – and they would obey His judgments. They would dwell in the Land delivered from their uncleanness in abundance. They would be a multitude. And the nations of the world would know it was God who did it and that Yahweh WAS God.

The hand of the Lord came on Ezekiel and transported him out of the city and into a valley filled with very dry bones. This clearly SEEMS like a vision, not an actual account. However, Jewish tradition teaches it was a real event (Sanhedrin 92b). In that Targum, one of the men involved even claims descent from one of the renewed bones. The Lord God is almighty and capable of doing anything that accords with His character – because He has set it up that way. He could have done this in a vision. He could have done this physically. The same lessons are taught either way, so it doesn’t matter. Ezekiel walked around the valley, confirming that they were very old bones. God asked him, ‘Can these bones live?’ Wisely, Ezekiel gave the only true response: ‘Only YOU know.’

God told Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones. God works WITH us (Matthew 19:26). He spoke exactly as God instructed him, and things happened just as Ezekiel said. Sinews and flesh grew. Skin encased them. The bodies were restored. But they had no spirits, so they had no life (James 2:26; John 6:63). Then God told Ezekiel to prophesy breath. He did. Breath came into them and they lived. As soon as they lived, they decried their captivity and declared all things hopeless. God told Ezekiel to prophesy to them. Ezekiel spoke of life. Of God taking them from their graves and bringing them into Israel. That by this, they would know God WAS God and only God could do this. [By doing this God was also prophesying that He could supply all the people He needed to bring about what it was He said would be.]

Some time later, Ezekiel was told by God to take two sticks. To write Judah on one and Israel on the other. And then he was to bind them together into one stick. When asked what he was doing, he was to explain that God would restore Israel and Judah as ONE nation again as they had been under David. They would no longer be two nations with two kings. But ONE nation with ONE sovereign. God would make a covenant of peace with them. He would tabernacle with them (John 1:14) and He would be their God and they would be His people. And the nations of the world would know He was God by doing this impossible thing.

“Son of man, set your face toward Gog of the land of Magog, the head leader of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him. And you must say, ‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh: “Look! I am against you, Gog, the head leader of Meshach and Tubal” (Ezekiel 38:2-3)

The great world leader Gog would not be a prince of power, but a prince in which God had hooks. He would SEEM powerful and mighty, but God would lead him to his destruction. He would gather troops and march. Some nations would join him and others would come to Israel’s aid. But Gog’s entrance into Israel was like entering a lion’s mouth. God would bring him in to destroy him. God would show how His people could dwell safely even against storms such as this force arrayed against them. The world would see it and know He was God. By a great earthquake, pestilence, and bloodshed, God would rain down judgment (possibly with physical fire and brimstone as well). God would magnify Himself and it would be seen by MANY nations. They would know He was God.

Summary

Key Players: God, Ezekiel

Key Verse(s): Ezekiel 36:1-7, 16-23; 37:1-14; 38:17-23