“Therefore say, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Though I had removed them far away among the nations and though I had scattered them among the countries, yet I was a sanctuary for them a little while in the countries where they had gone.”’
Ezekiel 11:16
In the midst of judgment, God was with Israel as a sanctuary.
Do you ever feel alone and wonder how you can make it through? It’s often under challenging circumstances that God is nearest to you. He reaches down as a loving Father even when we can’t feel or see His presence. But our obedience and trust in Him must come despite the confusion and difficulty.
Ezekiel 11 tells of a season when God was near His people despite their disobedience. Their wandering had led them to exile, but God still reached down. Previously, God had promised to keep them (Psalm 121:4) and to bless them (Gen 12:1-3). He had given them instructions for the Tabernacle (Exodus 25), wherein He would meet them there and forgive their sins (Lev 16-17).
It wasn’t mere material elements that provided God’s presence but how those material elements were made and utilized. Consequently, God selected specific individuals and filled them with His Spirit to ensure Israel would build to His pattern or expectation (Exodus 31:1-11). This was the meeting place between God and His people for over four centuries. Sacrifice. Confession. Forgiveness. Propitiation. Renewal.
When Solomon built God’s temple–over four centuries later–according to the pattern God showed David (1 Chronicles 28:19), Israel was given a permanent place to worship God and remain in fellowship with Him. As Israel obeyed and experienced material blessings, they would, in turn, bless the nations.
Unfortunately, it was not so. Israel did not walk in God’s ways; however, as Ezekiel points out, God was still with them as a sanctuary. This is incredible. God’s blessing remained despite Israel’s disobedience. In judgment, God was with them.
God’s ways are not our ways. Instead of removing Himself, God leans in. This is most encouraging for us today.
Do you feel alone? Are you tired spiritually? Are you under the weight of care?
God is with You.
Israel never returned to God with their whole heart. Instead, they assimilated into their culture and exchanged physical gods of stone and wood for immaterial gods of power and position. And it was in this milieu that God sent forth His Son to redeem and substitute His life for ours.
The promise? Our Lord, Jesus Christ.
“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
John 1:14
“For the Son of God, Christ Jesus, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silvanus and Timothy—was not yes and no, but is yes in Him. For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes; therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us.”
2 Corinthians 1:19-20
— September 27, 2023