Tag: Patience

When God Orders the Steps – Ezekiel

~ Sowmya Gali

Ezekiel 2: 1-5

And He said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak to you.”

2 Then the Spirit entered me when He spoke to me, and set me on my feet; and I heard Him who spoke to me.

3 And He said to me: “Son of man, I am sending you to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against Me; they and their fathers have transgressed against Me to this very day.

4 For they are [a]impudent and stubborn children. I am sending you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’

5 As for them, whether they hear or whether they refuse—for they are a rebellious house—yet they will know that a prophet has been among them.

The Prophet Ezekiel was in exile on the banks of the River Chebar in Babylon. He would have started his life as a priest at the temple in Jerusalem if he was still there. As he was contemplating his situation and the situation that the Israelites have found themselves in, he was shown a vision of the glory of God. The vision left him paralyzed in fear and he fell on his face. He then heard the voice of God speaking to him to rise up. In his fear, he couldn’t even stand up on his feet. Then the Spirit entered him and set him on his feet.

God charged him to speak to the house of Israel. God also said that He will put the words in his mouth and he is to speak to the house of Israel just as God commands. He is to speak boldly and not be afraid. He also forewarned him that he will face ridicule and persecution but he must still continue to speak what God commands him to. Whether the rebellious people listen to him or not, he must still speak without hesitation or fear. God then feeds him the scroll and tells him that He has appointed him as the watchman. Good or bad, he must speak the Words of God courageously.

Ezekiel didn’t have a choice but to obey the command of God. He did everything that God commanded him to without excuses. When God asked him to lay on his left side for 390 days representing the number of years of sin that the nation of Israel was in, he lay on his left side. God then asked him to lay for 40 days on his right side for the nation of Judah, he obeyed. God commanded that he eat only a certain portion of food by weighing it accurately, Ezekiel obeyed. When God commanded that he should not mourn or shed a single tear when his wife dies, Ezekiel obeyed.

The Spirit of God carried him by his hair to see the abominations happening in the temple in Jerusalem. He witnessed the Spirit of God leaving the temple and Jerusalem. His heart was broken. He pleaded with God to remember the remnant that is still faithful. God in his mercy, gave him a glimpse into the highest heavens where he abides. God revealed to Ezekiel the future glory that awaits His children. While Daniel was in the palace seeing the visions of Israel’s restoration and the future glory, Ezekiel was among the exiles doing God’s bidding and witnessing the awesome glory of God.

We wonder what it must take to be like Ezekiel. Unlike Moses who was giving reasons to be exempt from God’s calling, Ezekiel simply obeyed. God revealed Himself to Ezekiel in such a glorious way that he just couldn’t say no to God’s commands. Many of us are witnesses to God’s miracle power, His provision, His protection, His healing, His leading not once but numerous times. We may not be witnesses to the glory of heaven but have experienced the power of God in our lives. Without excuses, we must be willing to obey His call. When God orders our steps, we don’t have to be afraid of the ridicule, temptations, distractions, obstacles that come our way. They are taken care of by God Almighty. We must just forge ahead with the task He assigns us.

Dear Saint of God, we may not understand God’s ways on this side of heaven but we must stick to straight and narrow path that God sets us on. It may not be of our choosing but if we obey God, He will make it right in such a way that we are left to wonder the perfection and the precision with which God unfolds His plans and fulfills them. God, in His infinite wisdom, will reveal to us His beautiful plans as we take that step of obedience.

We all have seen or heard of fresh water rivers, when they flow into the sea, their fresh water becomes salty. However, Ezekiel witnesses a river flowing from the House of God, when it flows into the sea, freshens the sea – a sea of fresh water, teaming with life.

Ezekiel 47: 8 – 9

Then he said to me, “These waters go out toward the eastern region and go down in to the Arabah; then they go toward the sea, being made to flow into the sea, and the waters of the sea become fresh.

It will come about that every living creature which swarms in every place where the river goes, will live. And there will be very many fish, for these waters go there and the others become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes.   

Jesus said that we who believe in Him, and receive Him, out of him will flow rivers of living water. Dearly beloved, the river we carry within will freshen the lives around us. Our task is to simply obey the command of God, stick to the straight and narrow path, allow God to order the steps, and forge ahead. For the reward that awaits us is much worthy than all the pain and struggles we go through on this side of heaven.

When God Orders the Steps – Daniel

~ Sowmya Gali

Daniel 12: 13

“But as for you, go your way to the end; then you will enter into rest and rise again for your allotted portion at the end of the age.”

Daniel was a young man when he was taken as a captive to Babylon during the first siege of King Nebuchadnezzar. We do not know the specifics of Daniel’s background. Which family he belonged to? Which tribe of Israel? We can only speculate that he may have come from a decent family with some education. King Nebuchadnezzar appoints Ashpenaz, his chief official to identify some young men from the captives of Judah, who belonged to the royal family or nobles, wise, endowed with intelligence and knowledge, good-looking and had the discernment, to serve in his court. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah were among the young men who fit the requirements. They honored God by living honorably. They were to be trained for three years in all kinds of royal duties, after which, they will enter the king’s personal service.

Daniel served faithfully in Babylon under four kings: Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Darius and Cyrus. During the years in exile, God blessed Daniel and his friends, who entered into king’s personal service. Daniel was elevated to high position in the kingdom that even when Darius and Cyrus conquered Babylon, he was still a sought-after man. Each conquering king appointed Daniel to some high position where the kings sought Daniel’s advice. God protected him and placed him in high honor under four kings and three empires. King Darius was especially fond of Daniel and treated him like a friend.

Despite all the achievements that Daniel gained, his heart ached for Jerusalem and the restoration of the kingdom of Israel. God, in His divine providence, revealed to Daniel that He will restore Israel, the remnant will return to Judah, and rebuild the temple and the city of Jerusalem. However, Daniel will not have the privilege to return to Jerusalem and will not see the temple and the city being rebuilt. Daniel fasted, confessed on behalf of the nation and prayed that the nation of Israel would be restored. However, Gabriel came to him and explained the decree of God. Until seventy weeks would pass, there will be no restoration. Daniel calculated and understood the time until the restoration of Israel. God, in His grace, also revealed the ultimate judgment to Daniel that would come upon the world. The visions he sees not only pertain to the near future of his time but also the distant future.

In all this, Daniel understood the magnanimity of a Sovereign God. He understood the times he was living in and came to terms with the judgment that was imposed on them. Daniel, who had such a noble desire not for himself, but for his nation, was not permitted to return to Jerusalem. Despite his high and influential position under three empires, he never used his influence to return to Jerusalem and start rebuilding. He did not take matters into his own hands but allowed God to carry out His will for His nation. Daniel recognized that a Sovereign God is righteous in all His ways. When God’s will takes precedence, life or death doesn’t matter. The cares of this world don’t matter. For the future that awaits God’s saints is much more appealing than the temporal happiness that the world offers.

Dear Saints, how many times do we get frustrated and anxious about a noble cause? How many of us are fasting, praying and waiting on God for His answer, His will to be revealed to us? Are our needs taking precedence over kingdom needs when we pray? Daniel, in the days of evil, oppression and uncertainty, he chose to stand on the side of God. He did not succumb to the pressures of the culture. His faith was in a God who was righteous and faithful in all His promises. Despite our dire circumstances, are we willing to trust in a righteous God and wait on His promises to be fulfilled or are we taking matters into our own hands and trying to help God in achieving what we want? In the process, are we surrendering to an Almighty, All-knowing God who knows our every step? If we only trust in Him, He will lead us on the path that He ordered for us.

Psalm 37: 23

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way.

Psalm 37: 3-7

Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.

Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.

Commityour way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.

He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.

Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.