Bible Reading Reflection from Genesis 11-20

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (LRAU), a reading update (reflection) from one chapter of the Bible a day]

𝔾𝔼ℕ𝔼𝕊𝕀𝕊 𝟙𝟙:𝟜

"They said, 'Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name, otherwise we will be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.'"

Highly advanced in technology, able to build a skyscraper.

Technology should be used to worship God, not to sin against God!

Mobile phones should be used to help us live a righteous living, not a sinful wasteful living.

Calling up people through the phone could be mostly good. WhatsApping biblical stuff like this [sharing reading-reflection] is good.

Zoom meeting technology for the church program is good.

What are bad?

Wasting time on YouTube for useless stuff. Wasting time in useless games. Wasting time in useless movies etc.

Well, that's building a tower of Babel in our life! And don't wonder if your life is full of confusion!

I also found myself wasting time on YouTube, movies, etc.! My Babel Tower is also very high already

 

𝔾𝔼ℕ𝔼𝕊𝕀𝕊 𝟙𝟚:𝟙𝟠

"Then Pharaoh called Abram and said, 'What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife?'"

Don't deny your wife or your girlfriend for your selfish interest. God will take the side of her.

Something to keep in mind until we die! 🙂

 

𝔾𝔼ℕ𝔼𝕊𝕀𝕊 𝟙𝟛:𝟡

"Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me; if to the left, then I will go to the right; or if to the right, then I will go to the left."

Wow! Abraham gave the first choice to Lot. What an unselfish individual was he!

Most people do things based on their interest, even fixing a date [day] for a program. Of course, there are always some people who also say [indecisive, going with the crowd], "What's good to you is good to me too!" Learn to differentiate them.

 

𝔾𝔼ℕ𝔼𝕊𝕀𝕊 𝟙𝟜:𝟙𝟜

"When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he led out his trained men, born in his house, three hundred and eighteen, and went in pursuit as far as Dan."

Look out for your relatives! Remember 14:14 of Genesis!

 

𝔾𝔼ℕ𝔼𝕊𝕀𝕊 𝟙𝟝:𝟙𝟞

"Then in the fourth generation they will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet complete."

Interesting revelation! God will bless Abraham with the riches of this land but only after 500 plus years. Now, [look to ourselves,] we want blessings now [impatience].

Also, Abraham’s blessing will be through dispossessing others. God, taking the inheritance of Amorites and Canaanites, and giving to the children of Abraham. God is set to destroy the Amorites. He is prospering them to be given to the Israelites.

God is righteous and sovereign. The blessings of Israel and the judgment on Amorites had providentially coincided!

Abraham didn’t see the realized promised land, because God's plan is bigger than himself. God is bigger than us. Whether we live or die God is working! Like a game of chess in a good way!

 

𝔾𝔼ℕ𝔼𝕊𝕀𝕊 𝟙𝟞:𝟚

"So Sarai said to Abram, 'Now behold, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children. Please go in to my maid; perhaps I will obtain children through her.' And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai."

So far, this is the 2^nd time a husband listened to his wife, the first was Adam.

Each time, it was a failure of the responsibility of a man concerning righteous and moral things. They were about trusting God: Adam to trust God and not eat the fruit, Abraham to trust God for a son and not have another wife.

On both occasions, the wife gave an evil counsel. I'd like to think the evil counsel didn’t originate from the women. Perhaps, both the thoughts occurred to Adam and Abraham too. And the wives instead of helping them to stand strong, the wives pushed their husbands in the wrong directions!

One Interesting thing: Mary the mother of Jesus asked Jesus to do something when the wine ran out. What did Jesus reply?

 

𝔾𝔼ℕ𝔼𝕊𝕀𝕊 𝟙𝟟:𝟙

"Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, 'I am God Almighty; Walk before Me, and be blameless.'"

Abraham was known as the friend of God, the father of faith, and the patriarch of God's people. And he was 99 years old then. What did God command him?

If Abraham at this age was commanded to walk with God and be blameless, what makes us think we are doing well in our life?

Don't look at other Christians and be thinking "I am not different from them. I do like them. I am sure I am doing well"

Perhaps, they are walking in the broadway that leads to damnation. There are only a few who are finding [forget about walking] the narrow way.

Look at people like Abraham and Paul if you want to compare. Your friends are probably false converts. Don't look at anyone to justify your spiritual slumber. However, look at anyone even at a sinner to mortify sins!

 

𝔾𝔼ℕ𝔼𝕊𝕀𝕊 𝟙𝟠:𝟙𝟝

"Sarah denied it however, saying, 'I did not laugh'; for she was afraid. And He said, 'No, but you did laugh.'"

Fear does two opposite things: revealing the truth and concealing the truth!

In both ways, they are done to protect oneself from any harm! A kind of selfishness!

Hydra men [Nazis] would rather die of cyanide in interrogation than reveal the truth [Captain America Movie]! And Polycarp [a faithful church father] would rather be burnt alive than deny the truth that Jesus is God!

Well, we seem to be more like the children of Sarah! Watch out for Fear and Falsehood.

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟙𝟡:𝟜

"Before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, surrounded the house, both young and old, all the people from every quarter."

Ancient people were extremely wicked. I am afraid this wickedness is thriving again, particularly in America and if it happens in America [the capital of the world] then it shall be exported [and imported] everywhere. But there's a man, Lot, who lived righteously.

What a picture of God's power to preserve us from sin, even when the world around us lives in sin.

We can be holy. We can be faithful. We can remain in purity. We can be disciplined. We can overcome all temptations and trials. Because God lives in us. In the words of Steve Lawson, "The perseverance of the saints is the perseverance of the Saviour in the saints."

 

𝔾𝔼ℕ𝔼𝕊𝕀𝕊 𝟚𝟘:𝟞

"Then God said to him in the dream, 'Yes, I know that in the integrity of your heart you have done this, and I also kept you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not let you touch her.'"

Is Abraham a good role model for husbands? Definitely not! He loved his life more than the abusing of his wife. He would rather have her be molested than himself be killed. Let’s give him the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps, he had a plan that we aren't told.

Paul exhorts husbands to love their wives to the point of laying down their lives. Abraham’s action is doubtful.

Peter warned husbands to love their wives and be understanding or else their prayers will be hindered. Is that one of the reasons why Abraham's prayer for a son is hindered for over 50 years?

However, God is a just God, and He would even kill every one of the King's men to protect Sarah!

What a comforting verse for the weak and oppressed!

 

Bible Reading Reflection from Genesis 1-10

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (LRAU), a reading update (reflection) from one chapter of the Bible a day] 

𝔾𝔼ℕ𝔼𝕊𝕀𝕊 𝟙:𝟚𝟟-𝟚𝟡

27 "God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them."

28 "God blessed them; and God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.'"

29 "Then God said, 'Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you.'"

First God created in His image. Then He blessed to procreate. Then He said He has given all for food.

Creating. Blessing. Giving!

 

𝔾𝔼ℕ𝔼𝕊𝕀𝕊 𝟚:𝟚𝟜

"For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be 𝕛𝕠𝕚𝕟𝕖𝕕 to his wife; and they shall become one flesh."

Notice the verbs: Leaving, Joining, Becoming.

He becomes independent, but not to live as he likes, but to be joined to his wife. A wife needs security, not a divorce, or a separation.

Husband and wife are one. They are responsible for one another, yes, even for the sins of one another!

 

𝔾𝔼ℕ𝔼𝕊𝕀𝕊 𝟛:𝟜

"The serpent said to the woman, 'You surely will not die!'"

Is this not the attitude, thinking, and strategy of man?

God says that it's wrong to do this and that, yet we keep on doing, believing we won't be dying that soon for such particular thing.

That's from the mouth of the serpent, from the pit of hell, an idea we have been given by the serpent, and some ideas never die easily!

 

𝔾𝔼ℕ𝔼𝕊𝕀𝕊 𝟜:𝟙𝟛

"Cain said to the LORD, 'My punishment is too great to bear!'"

Cain negotiates for a lesser punishment. Well, God didn't relent. Rather, as an answer to Cain's pleading, God allowed him to have the assurance of protection from anyone wanting to kill him.

That mark of assurance is a warning of punishment, a greater punishment on anyone who kills Cain.

Punishment multiplied!

 

𝔾𝔼ℕ𝔼𝕊𝕀𝕊 𝟝:𝟚𝟙-𝟚𝟛

"Enoch lived sixty-five years, and became the father of Methuselah. Then Enoch walked with God three hundred years after he became the father of Methuselah, and he had other sons and daughters. So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years."

365 years for all the 365 days in a year, huh! Except that there were no 365 days in their calendar. 😂 Enoch walked with God all the adult days of his life. What a life to imitate!

 

𝔾𝔼ℕ𝔼𝕊𝕀𝕊 𝟞:𝟙𝟚

"God looked on the earth, and behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth."

Oh, the plight of man! God looked down on earth. None was righteous except for Noah, whom He had declared righteous.

Mankind is still the same. Corrupted ever as it was. There's no more catastrophic flood (and won’t be anymore) because He is planning for far worse punishment— fire.

Like Noah, God sees us righteous, yes, even in our failings, not because we are sinless, but because God has clothed us with Christ's righteousness.

God is still angry with the sinners, and judgment is coming soon! Inevitable destruction!

 

𝔾𝔼ℕ𝔼𝕊𝕀𝕊 𝟟:𝟙𝟠

"The water prevailed and increased greatly upon the earth, and the ark floated on the surface of the water."

The same water that drowned the millions to death kept the ark afloat!

As Spurgeon once remarked, “The same sun that melts the wax hardens the clay”

 

𝔾𝔼ℕ𝔼𝕊𝕀𝕊 𝟠:𝟚𝟘

"Then Noah built an altar to the LORD, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar."

When was the last time you were thinking the first thing you will be doing when you reach your room was to kneel down and thank the Lord? I can see that in Noah, God has preserved him and his family!

 

𝔾𝔼ℕ𝔼𝕊𝕀𝕊 𝟡:𝟚

"The fear of you and the terror of you will be on every beast of the earth and on every bird of the sky; with everything that creeps on the ground, and all the fish of the sea, into your hand they are given."

No wonder why and how animals fear man. No wonder that man dominates this world. No wonder that animals have the instinct to run away from man when they see a man.

Indeed, animals should respect man because man saved them all in Noah's ark!

I guess man is much older than all animals on earth. Noah must have taken young animals into his ark, whereas he was 600 years old already.

 

𝔾𝔼ℕ𝔼𝕊𝕀𝕊 𝟙𝟘:𝟛𝟚

"These are the families of the sons of Noah, according to their genealogies, by their nations; and out of these the nations were separated on the earth after the flood."

And as God blessed them, they multiplied! “The word of God shall not return void,” says the Prophet Isaiah.

 

What does God want us to know? – The book of Ezekiel

I remember an incident when I was staying in Stephen Hall (a hostel of St. Anthony’s College, Shillong). The rector of the institution was our warden. When students wanted to go home, they had to get his permission. Students would write an application and slip it under the door of his office. At one hostel gathering, the warden said, “Hello! You guys are supposed to ask for a permission, not to inform me that you are going home!”

I am afraid much of our prayers are like that to God, informing God of our troubles. We want God to know as if He doesn’t know. We want God to know many things, right? We keep on informing Him every now and then. What about taking a break, and ask, “What does God want me to know?” “What does God want us to know?” is the most pertinent question to reflect when one reads through the book of Ezekiel.

The answer is to Know Him that He is the LORD, Yahweh, the God of the Israelites, the God of the Bible. Why is that important? Because we often have a false idea of God. We sometimes have “better” ideas than God and want to do our ways. We would rather be God, and act like God. Ezekiel’s message is, let God be God and you be His creature. Ezekiel is always addressed as “Son of Man” in this book – he is a mere man, a mortal, a creature of God. BTW, that’s Humility 101. Or, look at the following Scriptures:

Isaiah 1:3 “The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master's crib, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.”

Hosea 4:6 “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.”

The lack of knowledge of God is dangerous while knowing God is profitable.

Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

There are over 77 verses in the Bible [NKJV] that says that God does such and such that we may know that God is God and we aren’t. 63 of them is found in the book of Ezekiel (10x in Exodus, 2x in 1Kings, 2x in Joel):

 

(Ezek 6:7 [NKJV])

“The slain shall fall in your midst, and you shall know that I am the LORD.”

(Ezek 6:10 [NKJV])

“And they shall know that I am the LORD; I have not said in vain that I would bring this calamity upon them.”

(Ezek 6:13 [NKJV])

“Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when their slain are among their idols all around their altars, on every high hill, on all the mountaintops, under every green tree, and under every thick oak, wherever they offered sweet incense to all their idols.”

(Ezek 6:14 [NKJV])

“So I will stretch out My hand against them and make the land desolate, yes, more desolate than the wilderness toward Diblah, in all their dwelling places. Then they shall know that I am the LORD.”

(Ezek 7:4 [NKJV])

“My eye will not spare you, ​Nor will I have pity; ​But I will repay your ways, ​And your abominations will be in your midst; ​Then you shall know that I am the LORD!”

(Ezek 7:9 [NKJV])

“My eye will not spare, ​Nor will I have pity; ​I will repay you according to your ways, ​And your abominations will be in your midst. ​Then you shall know that I am the LORD who strikes.”

(Ezek 7:27 [NKJV])

“The king will mourn, ​The prince will be clothed with desolation, ​And the hands of the common people will tremble. ​I will do to them according to their way, ​And according to what they deserve I will judge them; ​Then they shall know that I am the LORD!”

(Ezek 11:10 [NKJV])

“You shall fall by the sword. I will judge you at the border of Israel. Then you shall know that I am the LORD.”

(Ezek 11:12 [NKJV])

“And you shall know that I am the LORD; for you have not walked in My statutes nor executed My judgments, but have done according to the customs of the Gentiles which are all around you.”

(Ezek 12:15 [NKJV])

“Then they shall know that I am the LORD, when I scatter them among the nations and disperse them throughout the countries”.

(Ezek 12:16 [NKJV])

“But I will spare a few of their men from the sword, from famine, and from pestilence, that they may declare all their abominations among the Gentiles wherever they go. Then they shall know that I am the LORD.”

(Ezek 12:20 [NKJV])

“Then the cities that are inhabited shall be laid waste, and the land shall become desolate; and you shall know that I am the LORD.”

(Ezek 13:9 [NKJV])

“My hand will be against the prophets who envision futility and who divine lies; they shall not be in the assembly of My people, nor be written in the record of the house of Israel, nor shall they enter into the land of Israel. Then you shall know that I am the Lord GOD.”

(Ezek 13:14 [NKJV])

“So I will break down the wall you have plastered with untempered mortar, and bring it down to the ground, so that its foundation will be uncovered; it will fall, and you shall be consumed in the midst of it. Then you shall know that I am the LORD.”

(Ezek 13:21 [NKJV])

“I will also tear off your veils and deliver My people out of your hand, and they shall no longer be as prey in your hand. Then you shall know that I am the LORD.”

(Ezek 13:23 [NKJV])

“Therefore you shall no longer envision futility nor practice divination; for I will deliver My people out of your hand, and you shall know that I am the LORD.”

(Ezek 14:8 [NKJV])

“I will set My face against that man and make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of My people. Then you shall know that I am the LORD.”

(Ezek 15:7 [NKJV])

“And I will set My face against them. They will go out from one fire, but another fire shall devour them. Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I set My face against them.”

(Ezek 16:62 [NKJV])

“And I will establish My covenant with you. Then you shall know that I am the LORD,”

(Ezek 20:12 [NKJV])

“Moreover I also gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between them and Me, that they might know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them.”

(Ezek 20:20 [NKJV])

“Hallow My Sabbaths, and they will be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am the LORD your God.”

(Ezek 20:26 [NKJV])

“And I pronounced them unclean because of their ritual gifts, in that they caused all their firstborn to pass through the fire, that I might make them desolate and that they might know that I am the LORD.””

(Ezek 20:38 [NKJV])

“I will purge the rebels from among you, and those who transgress against Me; I will bring them out of the country where they dwell, but they shall not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD.”

(Ezek 20:42 [NKJV])

“Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for which I raised My hand in an oath to give to your fathers.”

(Ezek 20:44 [NKJV])

““Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I have dealt with you for My name’s sake, not according to your wicked ways nor according to your corrupt doings, O house of Israel,” says the Lord GOD.”

(Ezek 22:16 [NKJV])

“You shall defile yourself in the sight of the nations; then you shall know that I am the LORD.”

(Ezek 23:49 [NKJV])

“They shall repay you for your lewdness, and you shall pay for your idolatrous sins. Then you shall know that I am the Lord GOD.”

(Ezek 24:24 [NKJV])

“Thus Ezekiel is a sign to you; according to all that he has done you shall do; and when this comes, you shall know that I am the Lord GOD.”

(Ezek 24:27 [NKJV])

“On that day your mouth will be opened to him who has escaped; you shall speak and no longer be mute. Thus you will be a sign to them, and they shall know that I am the LORD.”

 

You see, we better know God in His beauty or we shall know Him in His wrath. He is talking to His people, the Israelites, His people of eternal covenant (chapters 1-24). From chapters 25-32, Ezekiel (and God) shifted the oracles towards the nations of the world. He used the same formula as it was for Israelites to the nations of the world, revealing the purpose of God’s doing. Especially His judgment.

 

(Ezek 25:5 [NKJV])

“And I will make Rabbah a stable for camels and Ammon a resting place for flocks. Then you shall know that I am the LORD.”

(Ezek 25:7 [NKJV])

“Indeed, therefore, I will stretch out My hand against you, and give you as plunder to the nations; I will cut you off from the peoples, and I will cause you to perish from the countries; I will destroy you, and you shall know that I am the LORD.”

(Ezek 25:11 [NKJV])

“And I will execute judgments upon Moab, and they shall know that I am the LORD.”

(Ezek 25:17 [NKJV])

“I will execute great vengeance on them with furious rebukes; and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I lay My vengeance upon them.”

(Ezek 26:6 [NKJV])

“Also her daughter villages which are in the fields shall be slain by the sword. Then they shall know that I am the LORD.”

(Ezek 28:22 [NKJV])

“and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: ​“Behold, I am against you, O Sidon; ​I will be glorified in your midst; ​And they shall know that I am the LORD, ​When I execute judgments in her and am hallowed in her.”’”

(Ezek 28:23 [NKJV])

“For I will send pestilence upon her, ​And blood in her streets; ​The wounded shall be judged in her midst ​By the sword against her on every side; ​Then they shall know that I am the LORD.”

(Ezek 28:24 [NKJV])

“And there shall no longer be a pricking brier or a painful thorn for the house of Israel from among all who are around them, who despise them. Then they shall know that I am the Lord GOD.”

(Ezek 28:26 [NKJV])

“And they will dwell safely there, build houses, and plant vineyards; yes, they will dwell securely, when I execute judgments on all those around them who despise them. Then they shall know that I am the LORD their God.”

(Ezek 29:6 [NKJV])

“Then all the inhabitants of Egypt ​Shall know that I am the LORD, ​Because they have been a staff of reed to the house of Israel.”

(Ezek 29:9 [NKJV])

“And the land of Egypt shall become desolate and waste; then they will know that I am the LORD, because he said, ‘The River is mine, and I have made it.’”

(Ezek 29:16 [NKJV])

“No longer shall it be the confidence of the house of Israel, but will remind them of their iniquity when they turned to follow them. Then they shall know that I am the Lord GOD.”

(Ezek 29:21 [NKJV])

“In that day I will cause the horn of the house of Israel to spring forth, and I will open your mouth to speak in their midst. Then they shall know that I am the LORD.”

(Ezek 30:8 [NKJV])

“Then they will know that I am the LORD, ​When I have set a fire in Egypt ​And all her helpers are destroyed.”

(Ezek 30:19 [NKJV])

“Thus I will execute judgments on Egypt, ​Then they shall know that I am the LORD.”

(Ezek 30:25 [NKJV])

“Thus I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, but the arms of Pharaoh shall fall down; they shall know that I am the LORD, when I put My sword into the hand of the king of Babylon and he stretches it out against the land of Egypt.” [This happened in 605 BC. BTW]

(Ezek 30:26 [NKJV])

“I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them throughout the countries. Then they shall know that I am the LORD.”

(Ezek 32:15 [NKJV])

“When I make the land of Egypt desolate, ​And the country is destitute of all that once filled it, ​When I strike all who dwell in it, ​Then they shall know that I am the LORD.”

 

Chapter 1-3 is the Commission of Ezekiel to be a Watchmen. Chapter 4-32 is the Proclamation of Judgment on Israelites and the Nations. Chapter 33-48 is the Restoration of the Israelites. The purpose of restoration (also), and in restoring them, they will know that God is the LORD.

 

(Ezek 33:29 [NKJV])

“Then they shall know that I am the LORD, when I have made the land most desolate because of all their abominations which they have committed.”

(Ezek 34:27 [NKJV])

“Then the trees of the field shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase. They shall be safe in their land; and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I have broken the bands of their yoke and delivered them from the hand of those who enslaved them.”

(Ezek 35:4 [NKJV])

“I shall lay your cities waste, ​And you shall be desolate. ​Then you shall know that I am the LORD.”

(Ezek 35:9 [NKJV])

“I will make you perpetually desolate, and your cities shall be uninhabited; then you shall know that I am the LORD.”

(Ezek 35:12 [NKJV])

“Then you shall know that I am the LORD. I have heard all your blasphemies which you have spoken against the mountains of Israel, saying, ‘They are desolate; they are given to us to consume.’”

(Ezek 35:15 [NKJV])

“As you rejoiced because the inheritance of the house of Israel was desolate, so I will do to you; you shall be desolate, O Mount Seir, as well as all of Edom—all of it! Then they shall know that I am the LORD.”

(Ezek 36:11 [NKJV])

“I will multiply upon you man and beast; and they shall increase and bear young; I will make you inhabited as in former times, and do better for you than at your beginnings. Then you shall know that I am the LORD.”

(Ezek 36:23 [NKJV])

“And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the LORD,” says the Lord GOD, “when I am hallowed in you before their eyes.””

(Ezek 36:38 [NKJV])

“Like a flock offered as holy sacrifices, like the flock at Jerusalem on its feast days, so shall the ruined cities be filled with flocks of men. Then they shall know that I am the LORD.”

(Ezek 37:6 [NKJV])

“I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the LORD.”

(Ezek 37:13 [NKJV])

“Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves.”

(Ezek 38:23 [NKJV])

“Thus I will magnify Myself and sanctify Myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations. Then they shall know that I am the LORD.”

(Ezek 39:6 [NKJV])

“And I will send fire on Magog and on those who live in security in the coastlands. Then they shall know that I am the LORD.”

(Ezek 39:7 [NKJV])

“So I will make My holy name known in the midst of My people Israel, and I will not let them profane My holy name anymore. Then the nations shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel.”

(Ezek 39:22 [NKJV])

“So the house of Israel shall know that I am the LORD their God from that day forward.”

(Ezek 39:28 [NKJV])

“then they shall know that I am the LORD their God, who sent them into captivity among the nations, but also brought them back to their land, and left none of them captive any longer.”

 

Chapter 1-3: It’s the Vision of the Glory of God that strengthened Ezekiel to be a Watchman, living a God-pleasing life in the world of rebellious people.

Chapter 4-33: It’s the Departure of the Glory of God that brought Judgment upon the people.

Chapter 33-48: It’s the Appearing of the Glory of God that will Restore the Israelites.

 

Indeed, God does everything for His glory. This is the theme of Ezekiel. God wants to be known. God wants to be popular. We must live for His glory (1 Cor. 10:31). Our boast, glory, joy, satisfaction must be that we know God. Indeed, Jeremiah 9:24 says, ““But let him who glories glory in this, ​That he understands and knows Me, ​That I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. ​For in these I delight,” says the LORD.”

 

The other times this statement occurs in the Bible:

(Exod 6:7 [NKJV])

“I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the LORD your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.”

(Exod 7:5 [NKJV])

“And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the children of Israel from among them.”

(Exod 7:17 [NKJV])

“Thus says the LORD: “By this you shall know that I am the LORD. Behold, I will strike the waters which are in the river with the rod that is in my hand, and they shall be turned to blood.”

(Exod 8:22 [NKJV])

“And in that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, in which My people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there, in order that you may know that I am the LORD in the midst of the land.”

(Exod 10:2 [NKJV])

“and that you may tell in the hearing of your son and your son’s son the mighty things I have done in Egypt, and My signs which I have done among them, that you may know that I am the LORD.”

(Exod 14:4 [NKJV])

“Then I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, so that he will pursue them; and I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, that the Egyptians may know that I am the LORD.” And they did so.”

(Exod 14:18 [NKJV])

“Then the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gained honor for Myself over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.”

(Exod 16:12 [NKJV])

“I have heard the complaints of the children of Israel. Speak to them, saying, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. And you shall know that I am the LORD your God.’”

(Exod 29:46 [NKJV])

“And they shall know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them up out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them. I am the LORD their God.”

(Exod 31:13 [NKJV])

“Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: ‘Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you.’”

 

(1Kgs 20:13 [NKJV])

“Suddenly a prophet approached Ahab king of Israel, saying, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, I will deliver it into your hand today, and you shall know that I am the LORD.’””

(1Kgs 20:28 [NKJV])

“Then a man of God came and spoke to the king of Israel, and said, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Because the Syrians have said, “The LORD is God of the hills, but He is not God of the valleys,” therefore I will deliver all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the LORD.””

 

(Joel 2:27 [NKJV])

“Then you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel: ​I am the LORD your God ​And there is no other. ​My people shall never be put to shame.”

(Joel 3:17 [NKJV])

“So you shall know that I am the LORD your God, ​Dwelling in Zion My holy mountain. ​Then Jerusalem shall be holy, ​And no aliens shall ever pass through her again.”