What began as a simple outing for some ice cream one summer night quickly turned into an unforgettable experience.
We looked up to see an eerie, brown cloud speeding toward us at an alarming rate while twigs and debris whirled above. Within seconds, my friend’s ice cream melted into a puddle, and we all knew: something was definitely wrong. Sprinting to our cars, we started what would be a long drive home, as bursts of wind shook our vehicles, tree limbs crashed around, and street lights went black, one by one by one all along our route. It seemed as if the blackness would engulf us at any moment.
Throughout the night we endured torrential wind and rain, a tree crashing down in our driveway, and another demolishing a car around the corner. Eventually we would learn that this type of severe wind storm is called a derecho, and they can cause incredible damage very quickly. If ever there was a stark reminder of our smallness as human beings, this was it.
No sheer act of will or bravado can face a show of nature and slow down its advance. Such is the reality that the Lord brings in full force against Gog and his assembled army to “display [His] greatness and holiness, and reveal [Himself] in the sight of many nations” (Ezekiel 38:23). In today’s reading, the Lord displays His power in unequivocal ways: “a great earthquake,” “the mountains will be demolished, the cliffs will collapse…,” and He will “pour out torrential rain, hailstones, fire, and burning sulfur on him” (vv.19,20,22). The result: “every human being on the face of the earth will tremble before me” (v.20).
In chapter 39, He continues saying that because of this “they will know that I am the LORD. So I will make my holy name known among my people Israel” (Ezekiel 39:6–7).
His display of utter destruction and power makes the revelation of Israel’s redemption that much sweeter. This time, the unmitigated pouring out is one of mercy rather than judgement. He says, “I will pour out my Spirit on the house of Israel” (v.29). An act of abundance, His presence with them is no longer concealed: it is freely given. In place of “disgrace” (v.26), there is a reconciliation, and He promises to “leave none of them behind” (v.28).
Shanna—68 times—I love that you are keeping count! ❤️ I see it as God loving them so much that he will do what ever it takes to show them who he is and to have a relationship with them. Hope this helps.
Also, thank you Heidi for your analogy on storms – that like the unpredictable weather storms we face, God doesn’t rely on our preparations or abilities. That he’s sovereign over all of it and can bring out the good of any storm. Well put and resonates deeply with me today. ❤️
Hi sisters. Can you all pray for my partner’s surgery today? It’s for his Achilles (his 2nd operation). Please and thank you everyone ❤️
I’m so glad that God doesn’t loose His desire to bring us back to Him. If you think about it, the world is the same today as what we are reading. He is still abandoned and rejected time and time again. I’m so thankful for the forgiveness that God offers us. For His desire to bring us back to Him over and over. I pray that my eyes stay looking up towards God. That I never “forget to remember” all that He has done for me.
DOROTHY AND HEIDI – such great news!
KATIE – prayers for you
ADRIENNE – so heartbreaking for your friends. Prayers
Adrienne, praying for your friend’s family-that the young lady receives all the help she needs to recover, & that her parents also receive wise counsel on how best to help her. Shanna Morgan, I believe that God doesn’t need anything from us, rather that we (all people) need to recognize Him as the Almighty, Sovereign, one true God that He is. What amazes me is that he hasn’t run out of patience with humanity yet. Remember, He does not want any to perish…and yet He is a just God. Does that help?
SHANNA MORGAN, I don’t believe it’s so much that God NEEDS them to know Him, but that the people need to know Him. One of the reasons they kept falling into sin was that they forgot who God is – holy, righteous, loving, kind, merciful. They kept forgetting that they had made a covenant with God that He would bless and they would be obedient. They broke their part of the covenant. God could have left them where they were and He would be completely right to do so. He could leave us where He finds us, but He doesn’t.
What I find so miraculous are the lengths that God will go to bring His people back to Him, not because He’s on an ego trip but because He loves us so much. We can’t begin to comprehend that love. It is unfathomable. That is one of the things I have turned to every day of this study. God will judge our sins. There will be consequences, but ultimately the goal is to bring us back into a relationship with him.
I hope this helps a little. Have a blessed day.
PRAISE THE LORD!!!! GOD is soooo good!!! Finley is coming home today. All went well, after some help from my son and daughter-in-law, with my sister. I found out the type of rehabilitation place they want my sister to go is for physical therapy because she is weak. I didn’t have any trouble talking her into it at first then all of the sudden she changed her mind. She was concerned about her clients — she’s a CPA and has some taxes to do for some clients — but once my son told her the programming she has set up on her laptop and main computer will work together no matter wherever she is then she was will to go. Andrew, my son, and Dani, my d-i-l, went by Carol’s house and checked on things for me. I spent most of the day yesterday at the hospital.
Ezekiel shows how God loves His people and how He cares for them. Let’s not forget this and thank God for all He does for us.
Sisters, be blessed and thank God for all He has done for you.
Good Morning- Missing lots of familiar names lately, so prayers for you sisters, that all is ok, and that we will see you soon! :)
I am going to the last meeting of my bible study at church this morning! It was such a blessing, not only the amazing study, which I highly recommend “Armor Of God” by Pricilla Shriver but meeting a great group of women! Being new to the church I wanted to meet people! Last week they prayed over me with the situation with my grandson! Oh what an honor to have sisters of the Lord lay hands on you and lift your situation up to the Lord! And that’s what we do here my SHE’s, we support each other, honor and lift up requests to our Lord! We can lean into each other, and in a way be more transparent and open with our insecurities with a screen between us, a kind of anonymous plea. Which is okay, maybe a gift in a way! We want to hear from you all! :)
Have a great Thurday!