the Third Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 4 of 5
Ezekiel 20:1-14
The elders, who seem to have learnt nothing from their first visit (ch. 14), come back to find Ezekiel. God rebukes them through His servant – and not this time in symbolic language – listing Israel’s abominations, a list as ancient as this people’s history. Right from Egypt they have been rebellious; they have refused to get rid of their idols and have not been ready to listen to the One who revealed Himself (v. 8). So, to make Himself heard, the LORD led His people through the wilderness. There is nothing more impressive than the silence of the wilderness. It is also the best place to listen to God; one is not distracted there by other noises. Israel there received, at Sinai, the statutes and ordinances of the LORD (vv 10, 11). At a later date John there preached repentance and the coming of the Messiah (John 1:23). Finally it is there that the people will be again led before the appearing of the Lord Jesus so that God may "speak comfortably" to them (Hosea 2:14). Moses, Paul and many another servant have there been prepared at length for their ministry (Exodus 3:1-22; Galatians 1:17-18).
Dear friends, let us not refuse this necessary calling apart, in whatever form (enforced solitude, long illness, etc. . . .) the Lord may see fit to make us experience it.
