What Do You See?

And so I will greatly punish Egypt, and they will know that I am the LORD.” [Ezekiel 30.19]

This verse reveals something important if we will see it.

Relative to yesterday's post A Serious Implication, God's holiness endangers certain people. This endangerment would naturally and obviously mean there is danger. Danger is defined by Merriam-Webster.com as follows: 

1: exposure or liability to injury, pain, harm, or loss

The astute Bible student will immediately recognize that injury, pain, harm, and loss are all defined as curses for disobedience in Deuteronomy 28.15-68. 

What God is saying through Ezekiel is that, every bit as much as He is known for His blessings of love and mercy, God may be known just as well for His punishment (curses). Egypt, in this case, would know God by their great punishment.

And yet, with all the collective knowledge of the Bible modern-day man has, he sees and therefore knows less of God it seems than at any time in history. Instead of God being recognized as the provider of all good things, the knowledge and advancements of man (do I dare repeat, the idols of debt, insurance, medicine and technology) are given full or partial credit. Conversely, the same knowledge and advancements of mankind deny God's hand in injury, pain, harm and loss, attributing them instead to any variety of reasons other than God that, in most cases, education or negotiation can ultimately remedy (the ironic exception to this is seen in insurance's use of the phrase "acts of God").

God said He would punish Egypt, and in that punishment, they would know He is God. Injury, pain, harm and loss all constitute punishment as seen in Deuteronomy 28.15-68. Until modern man sees past his knowledge and advancements (his idols), he will never simply discern God's hand in the world around him, and consequently, will never repent. Man's idols effectively blind him to both God's mercy and His judgment.

As grim as the previous paragraph may seem, there is hope. In these last days, God is revealing Himself to those who purposefully seek Him and His Word. There are people who are beginning to believe the Bible over the conventional knowledge of man and his idols (including man's powerless religion). These people will effectively navigate the horrific events that lie ahead at worst, or will be caught up to heaven with God at best. Either way, these people are being prepared and will be ready for whatever because they know and recognize God!

Is it not perfectly understandable then that Jesus made the following statement:

“I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.” [John 10.1-5]

To recognize God's "voice" in all He does is imperative. Otherwise, the "sheep" are vulnerable to just about anything their predators utilize to overcome them. 

Hmm.

Father, may I be keenly aware of all the circumstances of my life - the blessings and the curses - and may I rightly respond to You in each with praise or repentance accordingly. May this simplistic approach relieve the constant "unknowns" of life and render me an effective disciple of Your character to the world.