Bible in 90, Day 62: Dem Bones Dem Bones

Ezekiel 36-48

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Nothing is impossible with God.  ~Luke 1:37

Ezekiel was a prophet who used a lot of imagery.  God had him lie on his side for over a year, walk around naked for a while, even the death of his wife served as a vivid illustration of one of God’s messages.  Today’s object lesson puts all the others to shame, however.

I always try to imagine myself in the position of the people I’m reading about.  So, imagine you’re Ezekiel and God has just told you to tell a bunch of bones to get up (Ezekiel 37).  Actually, before that God gives him a pop quiz.  “Can these bones live?”  I love Ezekiel’s response, “Only You know!”

Was that a cop-out?

So, Ezekiel obeys, as usual, and prophecies to the bones strewn about him.  Then, it really gets weird.  There’s a rattling sound, and the bones start coming together, getting ligaments, flesh, skin, and eventually they stand up, alive!  God says that the bones represent Israel.  This last section of Ezekiel’s book is about giving hope to the remnant of Israel.  They were losing hope, thinking there was nothing for them in the future.

God uses this picture of the dry bones coming to life to remind the people that nothing is too difficult for God (Jeremiah 32:17, 27).  If God could raise literal dead men back up onto their feet, he could certainly raise up a dead nation.

The same is true of us today.  If God could raise up dry bones, and if Jesus could raise up Lazarus (John 11:1-43), He can certainly give new life to our dead souls (Ephesians 2:1-10).  With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26).  There is no sin so great that God cannot forgive.  There is no one so wicked that Jesus cannot save.  Anyone who comes to Him in faith and repentance will find mercy, forgiveness, and a new life.

Let’s remember that nothing is too difficult for God.  No matter the sin in our lives, our God and Savior is greater.  No matter the obstacle in our path, our God is able to lead us over, around, or through it.  Let’s put our trust in God in every situation, knowing that if He can reform old dry bones into vital people again, He can handle whatever we face!

originally at Words of Reason

Bible in 90, Day 61: Apparently pride comes in the summer

Ezekiel 24-35

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Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

~ John Dalberg-Acton

The Pharaoh in Egypt during Ezekiel’s ministry had apparently fallen prey to this tendency (Ezekiel 29).  Rather than recognizing God as the source for his authority and success, he credited himself.  Not only this, he was making very bold claims, like that he had created the Nile River!  He was seriously treading on God’s territory here.  Therefore, God set Himself against Pharaoh and the land of Egypt.  He would punish them for their pride.

God chose to use Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon as His instrument of punishment.  God makes some interesting statements here, the key statement being that Nebuchadnezzar and his army had won a hard fought battle against Tyre on His behalf.  The plundering of Egypt was to be the reward to Nebuchadnezzar, and the punishment for Pharaoh.

There is an interesting contrast here between these two kings.  They are both being directed by God for His ultimate purpose, but Pharaoh has exalted himself over God.  Nebuchadnezzar has not done this, yet.  Keep reading into the next book where the king of Babylon falls into the same trap.

Pharaoh mistakenly thought it was his might, ingenuity, or authority that had elevated him to his high position.  God reveals through Ezekiel that this is not so, that it was God’s doing.  But even the humblest man tends to get arrogant when put into too high a position or given too much honor.  The more glory and power given, and the less accountability maintained, the easier it is for a man to begin believing his own lies.

Let’s never forget that pride comes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before the fall (Proverbs 16:18).  Let’s never assume that, no matter how high we may climb, that we have arrived there on our own power.  Instead, let’s remain humble before the Lord, who will lift us up in due time (James 4:10).

*originally at Words of Reason

Bible in 90, Day 60: God has no grandchildren

Ezekiel 13-23

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Congratulations!  Today we hit the 2/3 mark!

There’s an interesting passage in chapter 18 of today’s reading.  God lays out a few hypothetical lives spread over  three generations.  First is a righteous man who does what pleases God.  This man is commended by God.  Next is his son, who is wicked and lives nothing like his father.  He is condemned by God.  Third is the grandson who returns the family to his grandfather’s ways and lives a holy life.  He is commended for his actions, not condemned by his father’s.  Last is an unrelated man who turns from his wickedness back to God and is forgiven of his past.

God makes it clear here that each man stands before God on his own.  The son is not given credit for his father’s good deeds, and neither is the grandson punished for his father’s wicked deeds.  God had established this rule earlier in the law (Deuteronomy 24:16).  Elsewhere, there are passages that seem to contradict this (Leviticus 26:39; 2 Kings 15:9; Exodus 20:5), but these seem to be best understood not as a direct punishment of one generation for the sins of another as much as the tendency of one generation to fall into the same sin patterns as another.

This same principle is still in effect today.  A child who has parents that are completely opposed to God or religion can still put their faith and trust in Jesus.  My faith in Jesus Christ will not save any of my children.  The combined faith of my wife and I will not save them.  The only good that our children get out of us being Christians is that they will hear the gospel from a very early age and will hear it often.  My faith in Jesus makes me a child of God (John 1:12, 1 John 3:1-2).  But, there is an interesting truth within Christianity.

God has no grandchildren.

Each person stands before God on their own.  The faith of your parents will not grant you any forgiveness of sin.  But, like the fourth man in the passage today, anyone who turns from their sin and comes to God through Jesus Christ will find forgiveness and life.

Let’s never rely on the faith of our parents, or anyone else for that matter.  Just because our parents, or spouse, or even our children go to church does not mean we are right before a holy God.  Instead, let’s realize that apart from Christ, we are all headed in the wrong direction and turn to Him in faith.

originally at Words of Reason

Bible in 90, Day 59: Ezekiel and E.T.

Ezekiel 1-12

Spoiler alert!  If you haven’t seen the movie or Knowing, and you care, don’t read any further.  I will ruin part of it for you.  If you don’t care, click on…