How does Ezekiel 3:23 illustrate God's presence in challenging circumstances? Setting the Scene • Ezekiel is already living among the exiles in Babylon—a foreign land, a painful season (Ezekiel 1:1–3). • God has just given him a difficult assignment: speak His uncompromising word to a “rebellious house” (Ezekiel 2:7). • The prophet is overwhelmed; he sits “stunned” for seven days (Ezekiel 3:15). God Shows Up in the Hard Places • “So I got up and went out to the plain, and behold, the glory of the LORD was standing there, like the glory I had seen by the Kebar River, and I fell facedown.” ( Ezekiel 3:23 ) • Notice the location: the plain—an empty, desolate stretch outside Babylon. God’s glory is not limited to temple courts; He meets Ezekiel right where discouragement lurks. • The experience mirrors his initial vision by the Kebar River (Ezekiel 1:26–28). Same God, same glory, different circumstance—proving divine constancy. What Ezekiel Experienced 1. Physical relocation, spiritual revelation – Leaving the settlement for the plain makes room for a fresh encounter. 2. Recognizable glory – “Like the glory I had seen…” God’s character remains unchanged; familiarity breeds confidence. 3. Humble response – Ezekiel falls facedown, acknowledging divine holiness and supremacy. Truths for Us Today • God’s presence is not confined to comfortable spaces. – Psalm 23:4: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me.” • The same glory that appeared at first calling reappears in later trials. – Philippians 1:6: He who began a good work will carry it on. • Divine assignments often come with divine reassurance. – Joshua 1:9; Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 13:5—all echo, “I am with you.” Living It Out • Expect God to meet you in the “plain” seasons—workplace stress, family conflict, cultural pressure. • Recall past encounters; remembrance fuels present faith. • Respond with worship and surrender, like Ezekiel’s face-down posture. • Move forward in obedience, convinced that the God who shows His glory will supply His strength (Isaiah 41:10). |
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