Ezekiel 39:21-29
21 “And I will set my glory among the nations,
and all the nations shall see my judgment that I have executed,
and my hand that I have laid on them.
22 The house of Israel shall know that I am the Lord their God, from that day forward.
23 And the nations shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity, because they dealt so treacherously with me that I hid my face from them and gave them into the hand of their adversaries, and they all fell by the sword. 24 I dealt with them according to their uncleanness and their transgressions, and hid my face from them.
25 “Therefore thus says the Lord God:
Now I will restore the fortunes of Jacob and have mercy on the whole house of Israel, and I will be jealous for my holy name.
26 They shall forget their shame and all the treachery they have practiced against me, when they dwell securely in their land with none to make them afraid, 27 when I have brought them back from the peoples and gathered them from their enemies' lands, and through them have vindicated my holiness in the sight of many nations.
28 Then they shall know that I am the Lord their God, because I sent them into exile among the nations and then assembled them into their own land.
I will leave none of them remaining among the nations anymore. 29 And I will not hide my face anymore from them, when I pour out my Spirit upon the house of Israel, declares the Lord God.”
Glory - our God pouring out His Holy Spirit.
When we consider the Creation of God and His Wonders. We find even more wonders as we examine the Wonders of God. Abraham, Abram, was from Ur of the Chaldeans. Genesis 11. When Father God called Abraham to travel to a new Land of Promise - He called Abraham from this, consider Ur, now part of Iran:
We might say Abraham was filled with Vigor and Dreams of making a life with Sarah. God had this Plan! Incredibly, Abraham is not part of a willing and eager for "Go West, Young Man." Abraham believed God. Abram was 75 Years old. And leaves a well-off family to start as purchasing a small portion of land to dwell in a tent.
Hebron
Vintage 1840
1940
Wonders within Wonders
The Children of Israel complained and complained. Abraham is recorded as being Just and Merciful. Sarah is only have recorded as Laughing once. Best not to in the presence of Angels. She is placed within Mercy by our Father God.
Unimaginable Abraham did not complain.
Abraham had found something greater than his surroundings. He had found Love to sustain him. Not Sarah, we see this in her being captured by King Abimelek. More within Abraham than beauty externally. More than the comfort of his family's gods. More than the ease of an easy meal. Traveling so far - death was always a risk.
Philippians 4
Wonders of wonders to see the Spirit in Paul to live in Abraham.
9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me — practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me.
Abraham is a risk taker, for himself, for Sarah, for Lot. And for unknown men - he argues for their lives with God Himself. Abraham risking all his own life to save Lot - who had left to graze flocks more comfortably and be wealthy. Abraham went up against tribal kings - endangering life forever more.
You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
So Many Contrasts Within God's Wonders
Joseph is thrown into a pit and sold as his brothers have a meal.
The family will raise the flocks and shear the sheep.
Joseph is in Egypt. From having told of a dream. By telling God's Word - the truth is not always crowd-pleasing. Joseph looked apparently as if he were bragging of His Father's Love. And Joseph is in peril, in flight from his master's wife, in jail.
Trusting God in all circumstances. Even when Pharaoh commands his marriage outside of Joseph's faith.
The Children of Israel have rejected God and watch at least a million and a half people die to Nebuchadnezzar II of the Chaldean and Babylonian Empire. They couldn't even find a Bible in the Temple. Josiah had to clean the Temple to find a Bible (Papyrus, Torah - The Word of God.) Abraham was a Chaldean. There are 3 roundups and March 9, 597 B.C. we find Biblical, historical and archaeological evidence the Children of Israel left Jerusalem from being destroyed.
Millenniums later Archaeology shows Jeremiah's servant stood at the pit of the king of Judah's palace and sealed a document. Jeremiah had invested in Real Estate - a home in Judah/Israel as he knew war and devastation had advanced for 70 years.
Men of faith
believe God
in incredible adverse circumstance.
And the Children of Israel Exiles find Babylon to be nourished and well watered between two rivers listed as running through Eden.
In the middle of unbelief, God shows the Children of Israel - the abundance of His Creation. The riches of His Glory. Offering these slaves the comfort of Nebuchadnezzar's interest in their faith. Giving Ezekiel a home by the Kebar River. A home after - war and annihilation. Giving them the freedom of assembly on their Sabbath.
From seeing 1.5 million people slaughtered, walking 1,000 miles. Psalm 91 Only people of faith would live. Only a Spirit of Hope in God would have them continue. A faith of God in forces unseen.
Psalm 91
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."
3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
5 You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.
8 You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked.
9 Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place-- the Most High, who is my refuge--
10 no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.
12 On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.
14 "Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name.
15 When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation."
God did not care for the ways of Nebuchadnezzar II and his ego. The Prophets told Nebuchadnezzar II of the coming desert. No one believed the lush lands of Babylon would change. God fulfills His Word.
Nebuchadnezzar - flawed and cast down. Would see - like Hezekiah - future trouble; Nebuchadnezzar would prophesy the end of his own royal line. And God had held his place - to bring Nebuchadnezzar back to the gifts of God - God had graciously given Nebuchadnezzar. Can we even fathom the idea in a world of sweeping violence, war, devastation loss of home, family in bloody horrible ways - our God would save a heathen kingdom while Nebuchadnezzar suffered being the literal dog for 7 years. Daniel prophetically and bravely told the Emperor of the Chaldean and Babylonian Empire the news of God putting Nebuchadnezzar aside for 7 years. Does the Bible tell us of the broken line and restoration of Nebuchadnezzar - yes. Babylonian history explains during the illness of Nebuchadnezzar, his daughter Nitocris would do unimaginable works, expanding Nebuchadnezzar's Kingdom in amazing projects during his illness. Her husband would be the one who saw the writing on the wall. The Babylonian and Biblical histories are so close in this history they finish each other's stories. Like a husband and wife.
It's frankly incredible. A wonder within God's wonders.
God's Story never, ever ends with desert.
The children of Israel were told they were going not to an arid climate, but to the land of Milk and Honey. Today. Yes. 2,000 years later Israel is the land of milk and honey. The Arch of Titus in Rome had a firm tradition - Jews would not walk under the destroyer's arch. May 14, 1948, David Ben-Gurion, the head of the Jewish Agency, proclaimed the establishment of the State of Israel. U.S. President Harry S. Truman recognized the new nation on the same day. Winston Churchhill the same.
When does March happen in May?
Only once in 2, 000 years. May 14, 1948. Jews marched through the Arch of Titus. Thousands of Jews.
In an incredibly harsh world.
A man arrived, not owning but a small plot of land.
And he argued the life of men he had never met in his relationship with the Creator of the Universe.
Abraham Believed God.
The Light of Jesus Christ Continues to Shine. In His Beloved.
John 1
Believed in his name,
he gave the right to become children of God,
who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man,
but of God.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,
and we have seen his glory,
glory as of the only Son
from the Father,
full of grace and truth.
Abraham Believed God.
The Light of Jesus Christ Continues to Shine. In His Beloved.
John 1
Believed in his name,
he gave the right to become children of God,
who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man,
but of God.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,
and we have seen his glory,
glory as of the only Son
from the Father,
full of grace and truth.
Abba, Father God,
3 Millenniums later, we are blessed to know the good heart You loved in Abraham.
Increase Your Holy Spirit within us. That each day as we do Your Will, we will have the Love and Joy Abraham displays in most of his ways. We would ask You for Your mercy and grace each day as the Beloved of Jesus.
Lifting up good health and improvement.
Giving You, Father God our heart, cries and delights.
Trusting You with the lives, path and future of the one's we Love.
Rejoicing in the Goodness of Your Creation, yesterday, today and tomorrow. Asking for more of Your Holy Spirit not just in our lives, but encouraging Your nations to Trust You. And in Your Great Love and Delight in us, knowing the Goodness of Your Future You will Willingly bless us with.
Being Covered in the Name of Jesus, We ask Your Blessing. Amen.
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