How does Ezekiel 36:35 illustrate God's power to restore desolate places today? The verse at a glance Ezekiel 36:35: “And they will say, ‘This land that was laid waste has become like the garden of Eden; and the cities that were once ruined, desolate, and destroyed are now fortified and inhabited.’” From ruin to Eden—what God literally promised Israel • Ezekiel spoke to exiled Judah, predicting a day when God would physically repopulate, re-green, and rebuild their homeland. • Modern history already hints at partial fulfillment; barren hills of Israel bloom again, yet ultimate completeness awaits the Messiah’s reign (Isaiah 11:6–9). • Because God’s Word is inerrant, every detail stands secure—He will finish exactly what He declared (Numbers 23:19). God’s wider track record of turning wastelands into gardens • Psalm 107:35-38—“He turns a desert into pools of water…there He lets the hungry dwell, and they sow fields…” • Isaiah 35:1-2—“The wilderness and desert will be glad…the glory of Lebanon will be given to it.” • Joel 2:25—“I will restore to you the years the locusts have eaten.” Scripture consistently portrays restoration as both a physical and spiritual reality whenever God’s people repent and trust Him. Why this matters today • Same God, same power. Hebrews 13:8 affirms Jesus Christ “is the same yesterday and today and forever.” • Desolation now shows up as broken neighborhoods, depleted churches, exhausted souls, failing marriages. Ezekiel 36:35 proves none of these are beyond God’s reach. • The transformation testifies. When God revives a person or community, onlookers “will say” (v. 35). Restoration becomes public evidence of His greatness (Matthew 5:16). How the Lord typically works restoration 1. He initiates—grace precedes our response (Ezekiel 36:22-24). 2. He purifies—“I will sprinkle clean water on you” (v. 25). Sin’s root must be removed before new growth appears. 3. He recreates hearts—“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you” (v. 26). Interior change fuels exterior renewal. 4. He repopulates and rebuilds—cities get re-inhabited, land becomes fruitful (vv. 33-36). 5. He guards the glory—restoration’s purpose is that “the nations will know that I, the Lord, have rebuilt what was destroyed” (v. 36). Practical ways to cooperate with His restoring power • Believe every promise—faith welcomes the supernatural (Romans 4:20-21). • Repent quickly—sin is the surest path to desolation; confession opens the door to renewal (1 John 1:9). • Sow the Word—God’s seed “never returns void” (Isaiah 55:10-11). • Pray in faith—He invites us: “Ask Me and I will answer” (Jeremiah 33:3). • Work where He leads—Nehemiah modeled prayerful, hands-on rebuilding. Obedience partners with divine power. Living testimony When God restores a devastated life, family, or region, it echoes Eden and anticipates the coming kingdom. Ezekiel 36:35 stands as proof that the Lord who once turned scorched soil into a garden will keep doing so until every desert—geographical, relational, or spiritual—blooms with His glory. |
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