ODJ: God speaks

February 25, 2015 

READ: Ezekiel 2:1-7 

I am sending you to say to them, “This is what the Sovereign LORD says!” And whether they listen or refuse to listen—for remember, they are rebels —at least they will know they have had a prophet among them (vv.4-5).

One day I had an interesting conversation with a young man. Although he believed that God existed, he didn’t think that He was directly involved in the affairs of humanity—a belief known as deism.

There are times when we wonder where God is in this broken, noisy world. But from Adam and Eve in the garden (Genesis 3:8) to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 1:1-2) to the activities of the early church, we see God consistently involving Himself in the affairs of human beings.

In the Old Testament, God often spoke to people through the prophets. After years of consistent disobedience, He allowed the people of Judah to be taken captive by the Babylonians (1 Chronicles 9:1), yet He never gave up on them. Instead, He sent—among other prophets—His “watchman” Ezekiel to speak to the exiles through a series of visions (Ezekiel 1:1-3, 2:1-8, 3:17, 33:7).

The people had been overcome with grief (Jeremiah 8:18-21), for they had lost their homes and were now living in a foreign land as a result of their rebellious, hard hearts. God, however, revealed through Ezekiel that He had not forgotten them (Ezekiel 2:4-5). He remained faithful and reminded them that they would once again be restored (28:25, 39:25-29).

God speaks to us today in many ways: through the Bible (2 Timothy 3:16-17), His Holy Spirit (Romans 8:14; 2 Peter 1:20-21), other people, the natural world (Job 12:7-9; Psalms 50:6, 97:6) and dreams and visions (Job 33:15). God’s plan is to restore all creation to Himself through Jesus (Romans 8:20-24), and He continues reaching out to us today. Let’s remain still and listen for His active voice above the din of this world (Psalm 46:10). —Ruth O’Reilly-Smith

365-day plan› Deuteronomy 31:1-8

MORE
Read Job 33:13-18 for more on how God speaks to us. 
NEXT
How might God be speaking to you today? Be aware and strive to see or hear Him as He’s working in and through you. 
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