July 30, 2010 Hard STuff, Glorious God

July 30, 2010
Read Ezekiel 24 – 25

Ezekiel 24:16 “Son of man, with one blow I am about to take away from you the delight of your eyes. Yet do not lament or weep or shed any tears.”
&
Ezek 24:27 “So you will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am the LORD.”

THIS IS difficult to write. In its difficulty, I pray you will see God’s hand of great love.

Ezekiel 24 & 25 show clearly that God will bring tragic things into our lives for his greater purpose. Sometimes I hear Christians who are dealing with difficulties say, “Satan is very active right now.” The truth is, scripture clearly shows he permits the devil to go forth. And God will use trials to strengthen us. In this chapter, God takes Ezekiel’s “delight”, his wife, from him. Why?

The lesson here is that God’s purpose is for God’s greater good and glory. And his good and glory shine forth when his people enter into heaven!

And in that plan God takes Ezekiel’s wife from him to call Ezekiel to a deeper trust in him. God wants Ezekiel to model how to respond when the news of the nations’ “wife”, the Temple’s destruction comes to them. They must turn to God in greater faith and hope.

The Jews have seen and will see God destroying all things in which they delight. This is to bring them to a deeper relationship with him to learn from him and lean on him in all things.

And we, too, must see in Ezekiel’s story and Israel’s story the great work of God to preserve his nation to send us his Savior! Still think God is harsh? Remember—he sent his own Son to die for you. God knows what it is to mourn. In him trials will bless you.

Matt 5:4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.