Ezekiel 26

Ezekiel 26 is the warning to Tyre, a city that has been overjoyed by the demise of Jerusalem.  Not a good decision to be happy about the fall of God’s people.  Ezekiel paints the picture of how God will turn loose those around Tyre to come and destroy them – to reduce them to mere rocks.  He is pretty clear about it – check this out: “When I turn you into a wasted city, a city empty of people, a ghost town, and when I bring up the great ocean deeps and cover you, then I’ll push you down among those who go to the grave”.  We need to realize that God demands our love and does not look highly on us when we are joyous about the fall of another, particularly His chosen.  But the thing that continues to hit me over and over in Ezekiel is this statement: “Then they’ll realize that I am GOD”.  God is doing the things He does to get people’s attention.  It is the 2X4 method here.  I see that in scripture and I see it in my own life today.  So many times it takes a big whack to wake me up.  We can read scripture and wonder why these people make the same mistakes over and over.  They walk with God, they fall away, they turn completely against Him, and then He has to whack them to wake them up and start the cycle all over again.  Hello – there is a better way.  This happens because people take their eye off the ball – they lose the connection with the Father and let self begin to rule.  We don’t have to make those same mistakes, although many of us do.  It is prevented by building Godly spiritual habits we are disciplined to exercise every day, and surrounding ourselves with people who will help keep us accountable and on track.  If we try to live the Christian life alone, it will be a very tough road.  Build habits, good ones, and find at least one person you can ask to keep you accountable.  And of course, write down what God is doing in and through you.  We serve a risen Savior and a loving God.  He doesn’t get joy from whacking us!