The experience of writing this blog post illustrated the truth of the title concept: God is faithful. 
It’s been a different week here, with hubby’s injury last Saturday night and all. the. things. that follow such an event. I sat at the computer this afternoon to write, after attending a morning class which includes the concept the Bible can speak to anything we face in life. The question arose: what could Ezekiel possibly speak into this day and this week?
*What will God’s Word speak into your life today and this week?
“The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, tremble as you eat your food, and shudder in fear as you drink your water” (Ezekiel 12:17-18).
- In every moment of the day, God told Ezekiel to be aware and live in fear of the Lord’s hand at work.
- Wrath and judgment would come to Israel for their sin of idolatry.
- We live in an era when God’s grace is freely available for all who ask and receive.
- Even under grace, we ought to live with a healthy fear of God
*What does it mean to fear the Lord?
*How do we see God’s hand at work today to gently correct His people?
“Say to the people of the land: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says about those living in Jerusalem and in the land of Israel: They will eat their food in anxiety and drink their water in despair, for their land will be stripped of everything in it because of the violence of all who live there” (Ezekiel 12:19).
- God said Israel would understand the message enough to eat in anxiety and drink in despair.
- They knew God would strip the land and leave it in desolation because of their violence.
- (Idol worship and pagan rituals included violence.)
*In what circumstances might we experience anxiety and despair even when we eat and drink?
*Why might anything other than worship of the One True God involve violence?
“The inhabited towns will be laid waste and the land will be desolate. Then you will know that I am the Lord” (Ezekiel 12:20).
- Israel would know God is I AM when they saw His mighty hand at work.
- Last week I read an article that defined God as “He-who-is,” which is the same as I AM.
- God is, and that should be enough for us—without the need for something else.
*What is the connection between I AM and God’s mighty hand at work?
*How have you experienced God as He-who-is or I AM?
The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, what is this proverb you have in the land of Israel: ‘The days go by and every vision comes to nothing’?” (Ezekiel 12:21-22).
- God questioned Ezekiel about a saying Israel had in which they doubted the truth of prophecy and supernatural visions.
- It’s easy to discount passages of prophecy or visions as difficult to understand and therefore, false.
*When might we discount a vision or prophecy as “nothing?”
Say to them, “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am going to put an end to this proverb, and they will no longer quote it in Israel.’ Say to them, ‘The days are near when every vision will be fulfilled. For there will be no more false visions or flattering divinations among the people of Israel. But I the Lord will speak what I will, and it shall be fulfilled without delay. For in your days, you rebellious people, I will fulfill whatever I say, declares the Sovereign Lord’” (Ezekiel 12:23-25).
- God would fulfill His Word.
- He would do away with those who fed the people false visions or flattering divinations.
- The Lord would speak and it would come to pass in their lifetime.
*What “sayings” do we have today that should be done away with because they are not true?
*How have you seen God fulfill His spoken Word (from Scripture)?
The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, the Israelites are saying, ‘The vision he sees is for many years from now, and he prophesies about the distant future’ (Ezekiel 12:26-27).
- God also spoke against those who believed prophecy was for the distant future.
- They believed Ezekiel’s message might be true, but didn’t apply to them.
*When or why might we approach Scripture with this perspective?
“Therefore say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: None of my words will be delayed any longer; whatever I say will be fulfilled, declares the Sovereign Lord’” (Ezekiel 12:28).
- For the fourth time in two paragraphs (five verses), God said His Word would be fulfilled.
- In His time frame, without delay.
- Five times Ezekiel wrote phrases (“the word of the Lord came to me” or “this is what the Sovereign Lord says”) to introduce what God said.
- I wonder if in between those verses, Ezekiel spoke to God; we don’t have the prophet’s words recorded.
- God’s Word stands the test of time.
- Obviously, in this scene, Ezekiel spent much more time listening to God than speaking to God—always a valuable reminder for us as well.
- The message is clear: we may not know when or how God will fulfill His Word, but He will.
- And then “you will know that I am the Lord.”
- When we listen for and hear His voice, we draw a step closer to God to know that He is the Lord.
*What would be your response if you were living in Jerusalem at this time and you heard these words from the Lord through Ezekiel?
*What does God’s fulfilled Word and promises teach us about His character?
*When have you heard God speak to you in your life through Scripture or a trusted disciple of Christ?