You may recall in Chapter 6 how Ezekiel’s prophecy focused on God’s creation. Here again, God calls out to the mountains as if they had ears to hear. Nature had nothing to do with the fall of God’s people. The mountains were simply in the wrong place, taking the abuse resulting from the people’s sinfulness.
Do you think Ezekiel wondered how in the world he would do what God asked this time? What went through Ezekiel’s mind when God said, “Therefore, son of man, give the mountains of Israel this message from the Sovereign Lord.” Do you think that Ezekiel thought God had lost his marbles? How silly would he look talking to the hills of Israel!
God cares deeply. That’s the message I took away from today’s reading. Even the mountains, the very ground that armies trampled across, the land where bodies lay decaying, the land of promise caught up in the warfare and power struggles brought on by selfish, prideful men thinking they were better than God or didn’t need God in their lives.
God cares for those lost souls, too. But this message was for the innocent bystander. His creation. “He speaks to the hills and mountains, ravines and valleys, and to ruined wastes and long-deserted cities that have been destroyed and mocked by the surrounding nations.” If only those hills could speak. Would they lament over what they had witnessed? I think so.
The LORD is assuring the land that justice will prevail. Those that brought destruction and pain will be punished. God’s plan of restoration will begin with the land. It’ll soon be time for regrowth and for new life to spring from the earth in anticipation of the return of God’s people. What a time of renewal!
This message of hope was directed to the hills and valleys, but any who heard these words would be sustained in their time of exile. God was somehow planning on orchestrating their return. That was great news!
Do you feel like you need a renewal in your faith journey? Are you feeling downtrodden, weak, or otherwise compromised? We can get weary in this world. This prophecy can give us hope as well. God can restore that which is dead and unfruitful. God’s promise was not only to restore but to make better. “I will make you even more prosperous than you were before.”
Let Peter’s words from 1 Peter 5:10 comfort you today. “In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.” We, too, will be restored by God to be better versions of ourselves. God cares deeply.
Let’s pray. LORD, thank you for how much you care for me and for your creation. I cling to your promise that you will restore me so that I can stand firmly on the foundation of faith you are building in my life. Help me to stand strong during times of temptation and struggle. Forgive me when I focus on the negative rather than your grace and mercy. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
