Ezekiel 39 reminds me that many people
continue to live with their regrets and fears. Some painful
childhood events can stick with us and hinder us today, and some dumb
decisions may have changed our adult path. Today’s chapter is
filled with symbolism that teaches us about healing. The previous
chapter spoke of being in the midst of the battle; today God offers
instruction for the aftermath. The first step is of course to
survive by becoming a refugee in the camp of God. Those fighting
against God and Israel were struck down dropping all of their
weapons, “I will strike your
bow from your left hand and make your arrows drop from your right
hand… you will fall, you and all your troops and the nations with
you“. God’s motivation is
protecting His reputation, “I
will make known My holy name among my people Israel. I will no longer
let My holy name be profaned“.
In case it is not clear, God keeps His promises, “It
will surely take place“. Next
God instructs the protected to “use
the weapons for fuel and burn them up… the bows and arrows, the war
clubs and spears“. He says
Israel will have wood for seven years from the enemy’s weapons. He
adds, “plunder those who
plundered“. Friend, don’t
live among those weapons any longer. Don’t let them hold you in
fear; use them for fuel.
Next
the saved are told, “Gog and
all his hordes will be buried there… burying them in order to
cleanse the land“. He says it
will take seven years and “People
will be continually employed in
cleansing the land“. God
repeats the instruction to “bury
any bodies that are lying on the ground“.
Step two is, do not relive, do not resuscitate and do not remain in
the past.
God
makes it very clear that once every bone and fragment from the past
is buried, new life can begin. “From
that day forward the people of Israel will know that I am the Lord
their God“. Notice God speaks
in the past tense, “I dealt
with them according to their uncleanness and their offenses, and I
hid My face from them“. After
burying the past, we can live in the promise, “I
will now restore the fortunes of Jacob and will have compassion on
all the people of Israel“.
Remember Jacob? He wrestled with God, but God made a promise to him
that includes you and me, “All
peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring”
(Genesis 28:14). Step three is to receive the blessing. “They
will forget their shame and all the unfaithfulness they showed toward
Me… with
no one to make them afraid“.
And do not forget that God will use you to exalt Himself, “When
I have brought them back… I will be proved holy through them“.
I believe God takes the least likely of us to prove to the world, if
God can restore that one, maybe I have a chance too. Friend, here is
a final promise, “I will gather
them… not leaving any behind… I will no longer hide My face from
them“. Is it time to bury
your past and cleanse your regrets? Remember what the angels said
outside the empty tomb of Jesus? “Why
do you look for the living among the dead?
He
is not here; He has risen!”
Our life can be resurrected too. This promise is for today, healing
is ahead!