“On the day when I chose Israel and raised My hand in an oath to the descendants of the house of Jacob, and made Myself known to them in the land of Egypt, I raised My hand in an oath to them, saying, ‘I am the LORD your God.’” Ezekiel 20:5
God, through the prophet Ezekiel, reminded the people again about His kindness and grace toward Israel while they were in bondage in the land of Egypt. Although they were a generation of rebellious and ungrateful people, yet God was still faithful to them. How was God gracious to Israel?
1) He chose Israel to be a peculiar people to Himself. Even as their condition and character were both flawed, God kept His oath which He had sworn to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob that their descendants will be more in number than the stars in the sky and the sand by the seashore. And they will be His people and He will be their God. God had chosen Israel to be His peculiar people for an everlasting covenant.
2) He made Himself known to them by His name Jehovah. “I raised My hand in an oath to them, saying, ‘I am the LORD [Jehovah] your God.’” The foundation of our blessing is found in God revealing Himself to us. If God did not show Himself to us as Jehovah Rapha, we would not know that He is our Healer. If He did not reveal that He is Jehovah Jireh, we would not have the assurance He is our Provider! We are blessed because He has chosen to bless us. Thus, whatever distress we are in, He that made Himself known to Israel can similarly find us and manifest His favor on us.
3) He promised to bring them out of Egypt. He lifted up His hand in an oath and swore to them that He would deliver them. Even though they were unworthy, yet God, wanting to let them know His faithfulness and His character, went to the extent of making an oath concerning their deliverance. This statement is true of the God that we serve: “If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself” (2 Tim. 2:13).
4) He assured them that He would bring them into the land of promise. He brought them out of Egypt, that He might bring them into a land that He had prepared for them—a land which was the glory of all lands flowing with milk and honey.
When nothing in us will furnish Him with a reason for His favors, God will furnish Himself with one and make good what He has promised for His name’s sake. This is the grace of God. Many times David cried out to the Lord to deliver him from trouble for His name’s sake. God would not allow the enemies to gain the advantage at the expense of His name. Ultimately, the battle belongs to the Lord. Learn to surrender yourself to Him and let Him fight the battle for you.
God, through the prophet Ezekiel, reminded the people again about His kindness and grace toward Israel while they were in bondage in the land of Egypt. Although they were a generation of rebellious and ungrateful people, yet God was still faithful to them. How was God gracious to Israel?
1) He chose Israel to be a peculiar people to Himself. Even as their condition and character were both flawed, God kept His oath which He had sworn to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob that their descendants will be more in number than the stars in the sky and the sand by the seashore. And they will be His people and He will be their God. God had chosen Israel to be His peculiar people for an everlasting covenant.
2) He made Himself known to them by His name Jehovah. “I raised My hand in an oath to them, saying, ‘I am the LORD [Jehovah] your God.’” The foundation of our blessing is found in God revealing Himself to us. If God did not show Himself to us as Jehovah Rapha, we would not know that He is our Healer. If He did not reveal that He is Jehovah Jireh, we would not have the assurance He is our Provider! We are blessed because He has chosen to bless us. Thus, whatever distress we are in, He that made Himself known to Israel can similarly find us and manifest His favor on us.
3) He promised to bring them out of Egypt. He lifted up His hand in an oath and swore to them that He would deliver them. Even though they were unworthy, yet God, wanting to let them know His faithfulness and His character, went to the extent of making an oath concerning their deliverance. This statement is true of the God that we serve: “If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself” (2 Tim. 2:13).
4) He assured them that He would bring them into the land of promise. He brought them out of Egypt, that He might bring them into a land that He had prepared for them—a land which was the glory of all lands flowing with milk and honey.
When nothing in us will furnish Him with a reason for His favors, God will furnish Himself with one and make good what He has promised for His name’s sake. This is the grace of God. Many times David cried out to the Lord to deliver him from trouble for His name’s sake. God would not allow the enemies to gain the advantage at the expense of His name. Ultimately, the battle belongs to the Lord. Learn to surrender yourself to Him and let Him fight the battle for you.
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