Sun.’s Devo - God Strengthens Us

Read: Ezekiel 1:1-3:15; Hebrews 3:1-19; Psalm 104:1-23; Proverbs 26:24-26 Ezekiel’s name means “God Strengthens”. God came to strengthen him and sent him to give a message to a strong-willed people. Ezekiel was from the priestly family who trained under Josiah’s reforms in Jerusalem. His prophesies overlapped Jeremiah’s and went beyond. He ended up being exiled to Babylon under the second group that left Jerusalem and had his first vision on the River Chebar which was a canal on the Euphrates River. He saw the heavens open and out of the clouds came the four living creatures from the throne of God. They each had four faces facing the North, South, East, and West. They had wings that touched each others and arms below the wings. Each had a face of a man, lion, ox, and eagle. They rode on wheels that had many eyes, that went both forward and sideways. Flashes of lighting were all around them as they appeared to be on fire. The sky above them shined like crystal and above that was a throne made of but lapis lazuli. On the throne sat the figure of a man who shone in glory and brilliance. A glowing halo like a rainbow shone over his head. A voice thundered from the being telling Ezekiel to stand up because he wanted to talk to him. Ezekiel was so undone the spirit had to help him to his feet. He told him he was sending him to the nation of Israel - to a rebellious obstinate people. He was to speak to them whether they listened or not. God was going to make Ezekiel as stubborn and obstinate as the people so that he would not lose heart but speak what God told him. God handed Ezekiel a scroll and on it were written on both sides words of funeral songs, words of sorrow and pronouncements of doom. God told him to eat the scroll and when he did it tasted as sweet as honey in his mouth. He was to become this word and let it sink deep in his heart, then he was to tell it to the people no matter if they wanted to hear it or not. Ezekiel didn’t want to return to earth but God took him back to his exile. It is amazing how the New Testament just mirrors the Old. God told Ezekiel to go to a rebellious nation and speak to them but to first heed the word himself. That is the same thing Hebrews is telling us. We are to look at what happened to the children of Israel and not let our hearts get hardened like they did. Moses was an Old Testament example of a person who was faithful till the end but even Moses sinned and was not able to cross into the promised land. Jesus is our better example. He is our Savior and High Priest who is the builder of the whole universe. God wants to build his house in each of us but it is all determined by our hearts. Lord, may our hearts be fertile ground for your spirit to build its home in us.