ESOCS Devotional 15 August 2022
TEXT: EZEK 38: 10-23
MEMORY VERSE: “For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel.”Ezekiel 38:19 KJV
0 And the apostles, when they had returned, told Him all that they had done. Then He took them and went aside privately into a deserted place belonging to the city called Bethsaida. 11 But when the multitudes knew it, they followed Him; and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing. 12 When the day began to wear away, the twelve came and said to Him, “Send the multitude away, that they may go into the surrounding towns and country, and lodge and get provisions; for we are in a deserted lace ”
The text reveals that the safety of God’s people is clear from God’s description of them as peaceful people, residing in the land or community not secured with fences or walls. This suggests that Ezekiel has in view the future golden age. Verse 10 gives understanding that evil thought produces evil actions; a man wreaks havoc on his fellow man, as he has thought and planned it in his heart (vs 12-13 and Gen 6:5).
This also implies that man’s crooked nature always tries to take advantage of the vulnerability of others, as seen in the statement in verses 11 and 12. However, consider verses 14-17; note that the destruction upon Israel while it advances. God is the initiator in the final analysis: “I will bring you against my land (v 16). For what purpose? So that the nation may know me when I show them myself holy through you before their eyes.”
What God imagines to be a victory for Himself, the Lord turns into an opportunity for His glory. This implies that whatever level of persecution projected against a believer can only occur as the Lord permits; and at the end, God takes the glory. The Bible says, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers him from them all” (Ps. 34:19).
We are once again reminded that not only is God in control of events but that He knows about them long before they happen. His prophets had long predicted Gog’s attack on the covenant people. But to protect His defenseless people against it, God will turn every man’s sword against his brother (vs 17-20). So also, God destroy the enemies of the Church in Nigeria and the world at large. This should bring hope to every believer, that despite the fiery trials and persecutions, we have a Judge who will sooner or later arise on our behalf. Through the judgment God says, “I will show my greatness and my holiness and the nations will know that I am the Lord” (v 23; Rom. 12:19).
- What do you think about the things happening to the body of Christ? Is there really hope for the Church?
- Lord, defend your Church against the anti-Christ for your name sake.
Read Other ESOCS Devotional here
FURTHER READING: Joel 1:1-15; Matthew 24:1-31
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ESOCS Devotional 15 August 2022
