Reading:  Ezekiel 35-37
Posted:  September 14, 2014


Edom has been opposing Israel since the time of Jacob and Esau.  The large reason God is angry with them is the way they behaved when Israel fell.   Edom was happy, and saw it as a chance to prosper.  They had their eyes on Israel's land, and wanted it for themselves.   Greed and envy are terrible sins, especially when we want something that God has given to someone else.

When David was filled with lust for Bathsheeba, he committed a sin.   He made it worse when he tried to cover it up.   David could have had his choice of concubines, but he wanted Bathsheeba.   Envy of what God has given to someone else is treacherous ground.    I share this while reading about Edom because it isn't likely that we will be rejoicing at the collapse of our neighbor's house, but we might be tempted to be happy when something bad happens to him, and we benefit from it.   We might be tempted to try and lure his spouse away, if things get bad at his house.

Also, we could be guilty of celebrating when God brings His fair and just judgement on other people.   As I write this, ISIS is making a stir across the globe.   God will certainly execute punishment on them for the harsh way they are treating other peoples, and when He does we shouldn't be cheering and rejoicing and saying "that's what you get, for acting like that".   Instead, we should approach the news with humble expressions of thanks to God for saving us.   I doubt that I will be sad when news of ISIS in retreat catches my ears, but I shouldn't celebrate too loudly, either.

No devotional would be complete without a quick nod to the passage about the valley of dry bones!   God's wonderful promise to restore the people to their land.   It won't be the same people, and the bones that are in the grave aren't the ones who will repopulate the country when the people are allowed to return to their homeland.  The language is figurative (at least as it applies to the end of the captivity).  It's true that God will raise all of us from the dead before the great judgment day, but even then I don't think we will be restored with our human bones.

The real point of this whole passage is to underscore the fact that God is able, and willing to forgive and restore.  He possesses the ability and desire to cause His people to thrive.   Even when our lives look like they're over, and we have made a mess of everything, it isn't too late.  God wants to forgive and restore.   In fact, it pleases Him to do so, because it reveals the power and authority that He alone possesses.   It is an appropriate thing to pray for healing and restoration, and call upon the Lord of Lords to bring "new life" to our spiritually dead bodies.     God can change the hearts of people that you thought would never find their way to heaven.   He's in the people changing business!

PR