THE CORE OF OUR RELATIONSHIP
Today’s One Year Bible reading in Ezekiel 37–38 begins with a familiar account — Ezekiel’s vision of the valley of dry bones. It continues with prophecies regarding the reunion of Israel and Judah, and a message for Gog. While examining the details of these prophecies is certainly worthwhile, encouraging, and sobering, I want to focus on a specific detail that I think is very important.
We often tend to focus on what God is doing — or planning to do. Here, God says He will rebuild Israel as a nation, restore them to the land He originally gave them, and reunite the kingdoms of Israel and Judah into one nation. Then, when Gog and his allies attack Israel, God will defeat and destroy them.
All these acts are wonderful, and demonstrate God’s care for His chosen people Israel. But what I find equally noteworthy is why God says He will do these things.
A common phrase appears throughout these chapters:
“Then you will know that I am the LORD.” (37:6)
“… you will know that I am the LORD.” (37:13)
“Then you will know that I, the LORD, have spoken, and I have done what I said.” (37:14)
“Then they will truly be my people, and I will be their God.” (37:23)
“… the nations will know that I am the LORD …” (37:28)
“Then all the nations will know that I am the LORD …” (38:16)
“Then they will know that I am the LORD.” (38:23)
Do you see a theme here?
This reminds me of similar pronouncements God made regarding the ten plagues He brought upon Egypt, as recorded in the book of Exodus:
“… the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD.” (7:5)
“I will show you that I am the LORD.” (7:17)
“Then you will know that there is no one like the LORD our God.” (8:10)
“Then you will know that I am the LORD …” (8:22)
“Then you will know that there is no one like me in all the earth.” (9:14)
“I have spared you for a purpose — to show you my power and to spread my fame throughout the earth.” (9:16)
“… you will know that the earth belongs to the LORD.” (9:29)
“… you will know that I am the LORD.” (10:2)
The Scriptures declare that God has revealed Himself to all people (see Ps. 19:1–4, Rom. 1:19–20). He knows us intimately, and He wants us to know Him. And the better we do so, the more we realize how much He loves us, and the more we want to please and live for Him.
At the core of our relationship with God is knowing Him. Everything else flows from that. May knowing God be our focus each day.
We often tend to focus on what God is doing — or planning to do. Here, God says He will rebuild Israel as a nation, restore them to the land He originally gave them, and reunite the kingdoms of Israel and Judah into one nation. Then, when Gog and his allies attack Israel, God will defeat and destroy them.
All these acts are wonderful, and demonstrate God’s care for His chosen people Israel. But what I find equally noteworthy is why God says He will do these things.
A common phrase appears throughout these chapters:
“Then you will know that I am the LORD.” (37:6)
“… you will know that I am the LORD.” (37:13)
“Then you will know that I, the LORD, have spoken, and I have done what I said.” (37:14)
“Then they will truly be my people, and I will be their God.” (37:23)
“… the nations will know that I am the LORD …” (37:28)
“Then all the nations will know that I am the LORD …” (38:16)
“Then they will know that I am the LORD.” (38:23)
Do you see a theme here?
This reminds me of similar pronouncements God made regarding the ten plagues He brought upon Egypt, as recorded in the book of Exodus:
“… the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD.” (7:5)
“I will show you that I am the LORD.” (7:17)
“Then you will know that there is no one like the LORD our God.” (8:10)
“Then you will know that I am the LORD …” (8:22)
“Then you will know that there is no one like me in all the earth.” (9:14)
“I have spared you for a purpose — to show you my power and to spread my fame throughout the earth.” (9:16)
“… you will know that the earth belongs to the LORD.” (9:29)
“… you will know that I am the LORD.” (10:2)
The Scriptures declare that God has revealed Himself to all people (see Ps. 19:1–4, Rom. 1:19–20). He knows us intimately, and He wants us to know Him. And the better we do so, the more we realize how much He loves us, and the more we want to please and live for Him.
At the core of our relationship with God is knowing Him. Everything else flows from that. May knowing God be our focus each day.
by Darrel Eppler, Chairman of the Elder Board
Posted in Read Through the Bible
Recent
Archive
2023
January
WHO WANTS TO LIVE FOREVER?RESOLVING CONFLICT AND DEALING WITH EVILWHAT KIND OF FRUIT DO YOU HAVE?GOD IS PROUD OF HIS SONPEACE IS A FUNCTION OF FOCUSTHE HEALING POWER OF JESUSGOD CALLS YOU BY NAMESMOKE AND MIRRORSBE A LIGHTWISE WORDSEXODUSCHOOSING THE RIGHT PATHGOD SEES AND HEARSWHO IS THE GREATEST IN THE KINGDOM?WARNING AGAINST FOLLY
February
2022
January
February
A LEGACY OF FAITHHOW DO YOU APPROACH JESUS? GRUMBLING & COMPLAININGTHE STANDARD OF HOLINESSTHAT DOESN'T SOUND FUN!WHO IS A SINNER?JOY FROM READING THE BIBLEBETRAYING, DENYING & MEGOD'S BLESSINGSDO WE DENY KNOWING JESUS SOMETIMES?PASS THE LOCUSTS AND HONEY ...GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESSTHE UNHOLY IS MADE HOLYWHO IS A GOD LIKE HIM?!?HEALTH INSPECTOR'S PERSPECTIVETHE MASTER OF TIMINGWHO IS THE GREATEST?
March
RECEIVE THE KINGDOM OF GOD LIKE A CHILD OR DO NOT ENTER!HOW DO YOU APPROACH JESUS?STANDARD OF HOLINESSPARABLE OF THE TENANTSTHE COMPLAINTS OF CHILDRENJUSTICE AND JESUSGOOD NEWSREADING AND PRAYING THE IMPRECATORY PSALMSHIS GRACE IS ENOUGH (Num. 24-25)WAITING ON THE LORDOUR LEGACYGOD PROVIDESPSALM 65ABSURD, INCOMPREHENSIBLE EVILA LAW BREAKER MEETS HIS SAVIORLOOKING BACK GIVES HOPE FOR WHAT'S AHEADONE LINERS
April
WHOM HAVE I IN HEAVEN BUT YOU?LIVING YOUR "BLESSED" LIFE NOWTHE PERFECT POSSESSION OF DILIGENCELUKE 15: LOST AND FOUNDHALLELUJAH! WHAT A SAVIOR!SEEK GOD WHEN MAKING DECISIONSTRUSTING GOD BRINGS VICTORYHOW WOULD YOU RESPOND?JESUS RIDES INTO TOWNFAINTING WITH FEAR ... OR RAISING OUR HEADS?ANXIOUS THOUGHTSA BRIEF MEDITATION ON PROVERBS 14:5THE GREATEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ME
May
No Comments