Then They Will Know that I am the LORD
In today’s Bible reading*, God tells Ezekiel that He will pour out His wrath on His people so that “they will know that I am the LORD”.
God says that He will pour out His wrath until it He is appeased. (Ezekiel 5:13)
When my anger is spent and I have vented my wrath on them, I will be appeased.
Then after I have spent my wrath on them, they will know that I, the LORD, have spoken in my jealousy.
Ezekiel 5:13 (CSB)
She has rebelled against my ordinances with more wickedness than the nations, and against my statutes more than the countries that surround her. For her people have rejected my ordinances and have not walked in my statutes.
Ezekiel 5:6 (CSB)
God says that His people have been more wicked than any other nation. Really? Why does He say that? I think the biggest reason is because His people are just that: His people. He has revealed Himself through Moses and the prophets. He provided so much for them, giving them a land flowing with milk and honey, protecting them from their enemies. And yet, they have turned their backs on Him.
More pointedly, He says that His people have rebelled against His ordinances and statutes. God’s people are the only ones on the face of the earth who have had His ordinances and statutes! Paul says in (Romans 1:18–23) that everyone knows that God is “out there” because He has made it plain to everyone in General Revelation, the created order.
Yet, God gave Special Revelation — His Word — to His people. And because of Special Revelation, God will hold them to the higher standard of His Word.
They have His Word and He will do whatever it takes to bring them back to His Word.
Application
The Bible is more accessible to more people than ever before. In coordination with ten Bible translation organizations, the Illuminations Project hopes to have at least some part of God’s Word available to every people group in their heart language by 2033. Every person reading my devotionals has access to any number of translations via the Bible App and website.
The question isn’t whether or not we have God’s Word. The question is, do we read it? Do we study it? Do we internalize and apply it to our lives?
God’s people in Ezekiel’s day had had God’s Word, and yet they had turned away from it.
Have you? Perhaps it’s time to turn back to the standards God has laid out in His Word to His covenant people. Perhaps it’s time to read, study, internalize, and apply God’s Word to your heart. If you don’t know where to begin, please reach out to me.
* Chapters covered in today’s reading:
Ezekiel 5
Ezekiel 6
Ezekiel 7
Ezekiel 8