Tag: trusting God

The Marked Ones – Part 1

~ Sowmya Gali

Ezekiel 9: 3-6

3. Then the glory of the God of Israel went up from the cherub on which it had been, to the threshold of the temple. And He called to the man clothed in linen at whose loins was the writing case.

4. The Lord said to him, “Go through the midst of the city, even through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations which are being committed in its midst.

5. But to the others He said in my hearing, “Go through the city after him and strike; do not let your eye have pity and do not spare.

6. “Utterly slay old men, young men, maidens, little children, and women, but do not touch any man on whom is the mark; and you shall start from My sanctuary.” So they started with the elders before the temple.

God knows who are His own. From time immemorial, God always knew who remained steadfast in their faith despite the circumstances. During the time of Moses, when the Israelites were in bondage, God heard them groan under the burdensome and cruel hand of the Pharoah. God sent Moses to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and led them into the Promised Land.

In the passage above, the Israelites were in exile in Babylon under the tyrannical rule of Nebuchadnezzar. While in captivity, Ezekiel was taken in spirit to Jerusalem to see the abominations that were being committed in the temple and in the city. A Holy God, enraged after witnessing the evil in the temple, moved out to the threshold of the temple. They had defiled the temple with all kinds of abominations. Filled with wrath, God summoned a few executioners, six of them with a destroying weapon in their hand.

However, among them there was one executioner clothed in linen with a writing case about his waist. God Almighty, gave him a special task: to place a mark on the foreheads of those who sighed and groaned over all the abominations occurring amongst them. We do not know if they prayed to God but they had groaned in their spirits over the evil which was in their midst. That was all which was required for God to send out His angels to rescue them. In the times that we are living, with evil abounding, and our hearts overwhelmed about the evil in our midst, if our hearts groan or sigh for God’s righteousness to return, then God is faithful to rescue us. He is also faithful in bringing about peace and justice to the oppressed.

The other five executioners were commanded to slay anyone who didn’t have the mark. They were not to pity anyone but to slay them ruthlessly. Those five executioners followed the one with the writing case and slew those who did not have the mark of God on their foreheads. Ezekiel fell on his face and cried out to the Lord if God was going to slaughter the entire remnant of Israel from the land. God argued that the sins of Israel and Judah were so great that He cannot have any pity. Such was evil in the land of Israel!

God did spare the remnant that was marked. It is interesting to notice that God knew who groaned and longed for His righteousness and He rescued them from His wrath. There could have been a handful or many who sought after God. In this instance, God rescued these faithful few by coming to them. God placed the mark on them. He separated and spared them from His wrath.  Imagine the ghastly sight these people who were spared saw all around them – people falling dead around them. Imagine the screams emanating from the temple and in the streets of Jerusalem. Imagine the frenzy and chaos all around. These marked people probably neither saw the executioners nor the angel with the writing case, marking the faithful.

Our Faithful God did send the ultimate Savior to rescue us from sin – Lord Jesus Christ. The Good Shepherd calls His own and His sheep hear Him. If only we believe in the name of our Lord Jesus and commit our lives and hearts to Him, we are marked for all eternity, sanctified for all eternity and preserved for all eternity. If we are marked by Him, then we can escape His wrath.

The Patient Man

~ Sowmya Gali

That night the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bless you and will increase the number of your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham.” Genesis 26: 24

Wedged between two strong characters of Abraham and Jacob (Israel), is the brief story of Isaac. Not much is written about him, about his accomplishments or even his faith unlike his father Abraham or son Jacob. He was the promised son. His marriage to Rebekah and how he was swindled of blessing by his own son are the most prominent stories which are recanted several times. However, there is one small story which highlights the faith and patience of this simple man.

Isaac has camped in the country of Philistines, where Abimelech was the king. Abimelech just learned that the beautiful lady who accompanied Isaac was not his sister but his wife. Abimelech soon orders the people of his country that if anyone dares to touch or harm Isaac and his wife will be put to death instantaneously (v 11). Feeling secured, Isaac soon settles in the land, plants crops and reaps hundredfold within the year, because God blessed him (v 12). He became a rich man in wealth and cattle that the envious Philistine neighbors plugged the wells that Abraham dug when he visited the land several years before. They drove Isaac away claiming he was becoming too powerful for them (v 16).

Isaac, a man of gentle spirit, didn’t fight instead, packed up his belongings and moved to a different place in the Valley of Gerar (v 17). He reopened the wells that Abraham dug and the hate-mongering Philistines closed soon after Abraham’s death. He named the wells with the same names as his father had given them. Soon after, Isaac’s servants dug a well in the valley and discovered a well of fresh water. During the time, when water was as precious as gold, any man who digs a well, claims the land surrounding the well. However, the Philistines picked up a quarrel with Isaac and his herdsmen. Isaac had to abandon and dug another well. The Philistines quarreled over that one as well. Isaac was finally able to dig a well, which he aptly named ‘Rehoboth’ translated as ‘Now the Lord has given us room and we will flourish in the land’. That very night, the Lord appeared to him and gave him the promise that He will bless and increase his number of descendants. Isaac lost no time and built his first altar to God there and called on the name of the Lord. He pitched his tent and his servants dug another well there (v 25). In all this, Isaac didn’t lose his temper or grew impatient.

Shortly after he settled in the land, Abimelech with his adviser and commander paid him a visit. Unperturbed, Isaac questions Abimelech of his unexpected visit despite the hostility. Abimelech, who clearly saw how the Lord blessed Isaac, wanted to make a peace treaty with Isaac (v 28). Isaac lost no time and turned the event into a celebratory occasion. He organized a feast for his enemies (v 30). He treated them with respect, made peace with them and sent them on their way after the feast. When God is the integral part of our lives, we should take every opportunity to make peace with our enemies or anyone who is hostile towards us. We must reach out to them with God’s love. That is how we can attract people towards us as well as God. Isaac, a man of peace never resorted to confrontation or fought for his rights. Instead he compromised and sought peace. Isaac’s peace-making story is a great lesson for us to seek opportunities to remain at peace with people who are hostile. We should ask God to give us wisdom when to stand down and when to stand up and fight.

Abimelech and the Philistines, who clearly saw Divine Providence in Isaac’s life, left them in peace. That very day, Isaac’s servants informed him of another well of water which they dug up (v 32). Isaac’s patience paid off at the end. Despite facing opposition, he rested in God’s promise of protection and provision. God blessed Isaac in such a way that he had enjoyed peace all his hundred and eighty years of his life.