Day 18

Israel’s Restoration

from the Ezekiel: Come to Life (Lent 2022) reading plan


Ezekiel 20:32-49, Ezekiel 21:1-32, 1 Peter 3:18-21

BY Scarlet Hiltibidal

In high school, I learned how to do back handsprings. I was on an intensely dedicated competition cheer team that practiced hours and hours nearly every day. My dad would often joke, “I sure hope your coaches get serious about this whole cheerleading thing.” My number one goal in life, at the time, was to demonstrate my awesomeness in front of the football team. 

I wanted to be admired. I wanted the linebacker to be in love with me. I wanted my cheer coaches to be proud of me. I exhausted myself—determined to be the best and most strategic in my efforts to let everyone know I was the best. 

A lot of toe touches, a lot of hairspray, and a lot of years and tears went into my efforts of being the bubbly, cheering god of my own little universe. 

The problem was, I was never impressive enough. And even when I felt I was, there were never enough people watching. And if there were enough people watching, they weren’t watching well enough. If they were watching well enough, they weren’t responding loudly enough. It was never enough.

Today’s reading is such a beautiful chunk of Scripture about our one, true God. Our actually and legitimately worthy of praise God. Our Creator is the only being who genuinely has the right to demonstrate His goodness and perfection in the sight of all. We tend to strive to secure a worthiness that always feels false. But He is worthy. 

I loved reading what God says to the house of Judah in today’s passage. “Go and serve your idols….But afterward you will surely listen to me…” (Ezekiel 20:39). And then, He tells the people, “I will demonstrate my holiness through you in the sight of the nations” (v.41). I may not have known it back in high school when I was doing my best God impression, but His Spirit was patiently and compassionately pursuing me, the way He did with the people of Judah thousands of years ago. He was loving me, in my exhaustion, toward the realization that He alone could satisfy.

In Ezekiel 20:42, God says, “…When I lead you into the land of Israel, the land I swore to give your ancestors, you will know that I am the LORD….” 

Even though He was speaking to the exiled people, we see His character here, and we see how He deals with us and our own idolatry. We often spend time chasing our own desires and we end up empty. But God keeps His promises, despite our wanderings and failures. He leads us to the promised land, because He is a promise keeper! For those of us who accept the finished work of His Son, that “promised land” can be found anywhere on the map of this so-obviously-broken world. 

Years after the prophet Ezekiel had come and gone, Jesus left heaven and came to this world, “suffer[ing] for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring [us] to God…” (1Peter 3:18–21).

We, too, have failed at being holy. We, like them, turned from worshiping Him to worshiping other things—ridiculous things like cheerleading and careers and compliments. But, God, in His mercy, has made a way for us to be restored. During this Lenten season we are reminded that He makes spiritually dead people abundantly alive through the extravagant and sacrificial love of His only Son, the only One worthy of praise. 

Post Comments (62)

62 thoughts on "Israel’s Restoration"

  1. Changed Life says:

    So thankful that baby Elijah has come into this world to bless his mother and father, and our group of shes as well. We have all read about, prayed about, and rejoiced with this loving couple these last few months. May God pour out his blessings on this beautiful little family!

    And for you, Brooke…May you enjoy the beautiful journey of your pregnancy and embrace the many changes to your body as God prepares you to be a mother. May he bless you throughout this time.

    Love to all of you ladies, my amazing family of sisters in Christ. ❤️

  2. Mariam Kamel says:

    Please prayer for my health anxiety. It has taken over my life the past few months. I need release of bondage from this and to fully lean in on God.

  3. Mariam Kamel says:

    Please prayer for my health anxiety. It has taken over my life the past few months. I need release of bondage fro,

  4. Kelly (NEO) says:

    BROOKE P – thanks for you update. I was going to ask tomorrow! Rejoicing with you on the good growth of your little one❤

    FOSTER MAMA❤

    DOROTHY – praying for Finley!

    SARAH D – may you be the hands and feet of Jesus on this trip.

    MARTHA HIX – praying for your brother and his family.

    MELANIE – praying for Jason as wisdom for the doctors.

  5. Brooke P says:

    Adrienne, thank you. Thank you seriously thank you! I am 17 weeks as of yesterday & our baby is the size of a large onion. I heard the heart beat again Tuesday & it is strong and I’m on track! We will have our anatomy ultrasound on April 1st & am so so prayerful that our baby will continue to grow healthy and strong! (We also will find out what we are having then!!) I am just so thankful to God for his provision, mercy and grace. I’ve never been this far into a pregnancy before and I’m just filled with so much joy and thankfulness. I am so thankful for everyone of you and your prayers for us! (Our due date is at the end of August!) ❤️❤️ I love this community.

  6. Brooke P says:

    @Victoria E!!! PRAISE GOD SISTER!!!! Welcome to the world, sweet Elijah!! So many already love you and are praying for you!! Praise God! Thank you LORD for this delivery & your gracious gift! I am crying tears of joy for you! Hugs and prayers from Florida to you and your family!! ❤️❤️❤️ Praise GOD!

  7. Jennifer Anapol says:

    I am so thankful that God always gives us a way back to himself; no matter how far we have strayed. ❤️

  8. Dorothy says:

    Elijah welcome to this world God made. You have many who love you. Victoria E. congrats to you and your husband. Let God guide you in raising him.
    Praying for all those mentioned and those not mentioned.

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