What does Ezekiel 11:15 teach about God's faithfulness to His people? Text of the Verse “Son of man, your brothers—your kinsmen, the whole house of Israel—are those of whom the people of Jerusalem have said, ‘They are far away from the LORD; this land has been given to us as a possession.’ ” (Ezekiel 11:15) Setting the Scene • Jerusalem’s leaders believed the exiles were abandoned by God. • God corrects that notion, addressing Ezekiel about “your brothers.” • The verse sits in a chapter where God promises to become “a sanctuary” to His scattered people (v. 16). Key Truths About God’s Faithfulness • He never forgets any segment of His covenant people—even those forcibly removed from their homeland. • His definition of “My people” rests on His promise, not on geography, status, or popular opinion. • He confronts false assumptions that He favors the comfortable or the majority; He stands with the displaced remnant. How the Verse Demonstrates Faithfulness 1. Personal Identification – God names the exiles “your brothers… the whole house of Israel,” reaffirming kinship the establishment had denied. 2. Reversal of Human Verdicts – Men said, “They are far away from the LORD.” God implies the opposite: He is near, calling them “My people” (v. 20). 3. Ongoing Covenant Care – This pronouncement anticipates verses 17–20, where God vows to gather, purify, and give them “one heart.” His faithfulness extends beyond judgment to restoration. Connecting Scriptures • Deuteronomy 30:3—God “will restore you from captivity” points to the same gathering mercy. • Jeremiah 24:5–7—Exiles are “good figs… for their good,” illustrating divine purpose in their scattering. • Romans 11:1–2—Paul echoes that God “has not rejected His people whom He foreknew,” linking past faithfulness to present assurance. • Hebrews 13:5—“I will never leave you nor forsake you” applies the unchanging character seen in Ezekiel. Takeaways for Today • Physical distance or hardship does not signal divine abandonment; God remains intimately committed to His own. • Human dismissal cannot overturn God’s covenant allegiance. • Seasons of exile often set the stage for deeper transformation and eventual restoration. |
    |