What can we learn about God's sovereignty from Ezekiel's vision in 11:24? The Vision Revisited “The Spirit lifted me up and carried me to Chaldea, to the exiles, in the vision given by the Spirit of God; and the vision I saw went up from me.” (Ezekiel 11:24) Movements Under Divine Control • Ezekiel does not decide where to go; the Spirit “carried” him. • God rules over geography and circumstance—He places His servants precisely where He wants them (cf. Proverbs 16:9). • Even Babylon, the world power of the day, is merely the backdrop for the Lord’s purposes. The Spirit’s Sovereign Role • The repeated mention of “the Spirit” highlights God’s active governance, not a vague force. • Same Spirit later directs Philip to the desert road (Acts 8:29) and Paul to Macedonia (Acts 16:7–10). • Sovereignty means God can override natural limits—distance, politics, and personal plans bow to His will. Exile and Empire in God’s Hand • Being “carried…to the exiles” shows that captivity itself unfolds under divine authority (cf. Jeremiah 29:4, “I carried you into exile”). • Nations rise and fall at God’s command (Daniel 4:35; Acts 17:26). • The vision reassures the remnant: the same God who judged Judah now shepherds them in a foreign land. Implications for Faith and Life • Trust: Wherever He places you—home, workplace, another country—He remains in control (Psalm 103:19). • Obedience: Yield plans to His directing Spirit; His guidance is precise and purposeful. • Hope: When circumstances feel like exile, remember they are appointments, not accidents, arranged by a sovereign Lord who sees the end from the beginning. |
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