How should Ezekiel 35:11 influence our attitude towards those who wrong us? Setting the Scene Ezekiel 35:11 – “therefore as surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, I will deal with you according to the anger and envy you showed in your hatred against them. And I will make Myself known among them when I judge you.” Key Truths From Ezekiel 35:11 • God sees every wrong and measures it exactly. • His judgment is personal (“as surely as I live… I will deal with you”). • He will match judgment to the attitude that fueled the wrong (“anger and envy”). • His justice ultimately reveals His character (“I will make Myself known”). What This Reveals About God • He is the righteous Judge who never overlooks sin. • He reserves vengeance for Himself, not for us. • He vindicates His people in His timing, ensuring His glory is displayed. How This Shapes Our Attitude Toward Wrongdoers • Confidence: Because God promises to handle wrongs, we do not need to. • Restraint: Harboring “anger and envy” invites the same measure of judgment God condemned in Edom. • Humility: Recognizing we, too, depend on God’s mercy keeps us from self-righteous retaliation. • Hope: God’s justice means wrongs will not have the last word; He will. Practical Ways to Live It Out 1. Surrender the urge to “even the score.” Tell the Lord you trust His timetable. 2. Replace resentment with prayer: ask God to bring repentance and restoration to the offender. 3. Speak and act in ways that reflect God’s character—truthful, firm if needed, yet free from spite. 4. Keep short accounts with God; confess quickly when bitterness starts to brew. 5. Encourage one another with reminders of God’s just nature rather than fueling gossip or revenge talk. Scriptures That Echo the Same Lesson • Romans 12:19 – “Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: ‘Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.’” • Deuteronomy 32:35 – “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay.” • Proverbs 20:22 – “Do not say, ‘I will avenge this evil!’ Wait on the LORD, and He will deliver you.” • Matthew 5:44 – “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Closing Reflection Ezekiel 35:11 reminds us that God’s justice is both certain and sufficient. When others wrong us, our calling is not to retaliate but to trust, forgive, and live in a way that displays the very character of the God who will one day “make Himself known” in perfect judgment. |
    |