Heartbreak Valley into Acres Of Hope ♡♡♡

 

"Because they rejected my ordinances, and as for my statutes, they did not walk in them; they even profaned my sabbaths, for their heart continually went after their [worthless idols]. Yet my eyes [looked on them with compassion and] spared them instead of destroying them, and I did not annihilate them in the wilderness" - Ezekiel 20: 16-17 AMP

When I am reading my bible, I like to "stew & marinate"  in certain portions of scripture, that help me understand deeply, God's nature, heart and personality. I am looking for his attribute and all of the things that make him God. Very much different from any human I know. Like why are you God? What are you like? And so stumbling on this scripture in my reading plan this week, was one of those. Ezekiel chapter 16 for example, mind blowing! But let's unpack Ezekiel 20v16-17 - What a magnificent God!

Ezekiel; both a prophet and a priest, was sent by God to warn a people about the destruction of Jerusalem & also the restoration of Israel. Ezekiel means "strengthened by God". He really had to be, cause some of the things he was called to say and do, required God's strength. As is the human nature; rebellious, stiff necked and wretched. God holding deserved judgement in one hand, yet wooing his people and hoping they'd turn back to him, - turning away from their worthless Idols, that could do absolutely nothing for them.

  "Yet my eyes looked on them with compassion and spared them instead of destroying them, and I did not annihilate them in the wilderness" - Ezekiel 20:17 AMP - WOW

My life flashed before me, because it's important the word examines my own heart, apart from reading about a people who were in hot soup. I think about times, that I knew I was in a situation, because I was doing my own thing, instead of doing God's own thing. Yet, mercy meets me in my broken estate, and pulls me back to where I should be. And I mean, happened way too many times. God is fully committed to his relationship with us, even when we are not. There are people who only ever talk about God's doom and judgement, because some how the "scary sermon" will drag the people it needs to by their ear. Haven been there before myself, I know it's a kind of projection! I mean, warning others about a pending 'destruction" without sharing or expressing also about his love; makes some people feel better about themselves. But that's missing the point. Also, to love the way God does, requires one who has truly experienced that love themselves too. Whilst God had serious warning for his people, He also had deep compassion and love for them too.  Some people also ask things like - If God is so good why does he watch people suffer? If only they knew. God's eyes are right in the middle of all of that- the suffering. He is hurting too. It is humanity that is broken [we can unpack this later another time].

God had called these people to himself, he led them through many turbulent times, performed miracles before them and saved them from their enemies, even before they were able to commit to anything at all. Yet they abandoned him, went after their worthless idols, & they won't even listen to his call for their repentance and restoration. Yet God continues in hot pursuit for them, despite their rebellion. He'd still be the one to save them from the treacherous path of their worthless idols. I mean, who has time to go after a rebellious people, especially people right in the middle of a hot mess situation they created for themselves? That's what keeps God high where he is and keeps me low where am at. And I respect that. May we be more and more like him. Amen

The more I learn about God, the more I see how deep, how wide, how far and how high his love is for humanity. And I hope you see it too. Not so that we can continue in rebellion and take God's love for us for granted. No, so that we are compelled to receive that love fully and come into a deep and meaningful relationship with him.

"And now, here's what I'm going to do; I'm going to start all over again. I'm taking her back out into the wilderness where we had our first date, and i'll court her. I'll give her bouquets of roses. i'll turn Heartbreak valley into Acres of Hope. she'll respond like she did as a young girl, those days when she was fresh out of Egypt" - Hosea 2;14-15 MSG

 

Who's ready for a fresh new date? Anyone ready for a fresh new start?

Love,

Shay