A family is fighting a battle against one of life’s most feared enemies, cancer, and they watch their loved one as she literally wastes away from the disease. A community is ravaged by a natural disaster, and the residents return to find their homes, schools, and businesses lying in ruins. A man is facing an unknown future as his company conducts layoffs, and he is unsure of how his bills will be paid. A country is in the midst of war, and it watches as its young women and men enter into the dangers of combat. A woman is struggling with an illness no one sees, and she struggles to make it through each day against the waves of depression. As we look at the world around us, it is easy to become discouraged and wonder about God’s presence in the midst of all the despair.
The prophet Ezekiel faced a situation that caused great despair in the lives of his audience. It was one of the darkest times in the history of God’s people. The Babylonians had conquered their land and carried many people off into captivity. The nation of Israel experienced tremendous physical and emotional losses. Their confidence in themselves and in Yahweh was at an all-time low. The people needed to be reminded about the God who loved them and sustained them. The people needed to have their hope restored and their vision enlarged. It was in this time of need that the Spirit provided Ezekiel with an experience that still speaks to us today.
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