What can we learn about God's timing from "in the eleventh year"? Seeing the Timestamp “In the eleventh year, on the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me, saying,” (Ezekiel 26:1) The Spirit inspires Ezekiel to stamp three oracles with this identical phrase (26:1; 30:20; 31:1), and other writers mark the same year when Jerusalem finally fell (2 Kings 25:2; Jeremiah 39:2). Something in that brief line—“in the eleventh year”—tells a larger story about God’s timing. Why the Eleventh Year Matters • Historical precision – God anchors His word in verifiable dates. Prophecy is not myth; it is tied to calendar and clock. • Prophetic countdown – The “eleventh year” of Zedekiah was the year judgment landed on Jerusalem. Earlier warnings (Jeremiah 25:1–11) now reached their appointed final hour. • Repeated reminder – Three separate messages in Ezekiel carry the same date to show God’s coordinated plan: judgment on Tyre (26), Egypt (30–31), and Jerusalem (2 Kings 25). He moves the pieces simultaneously. Lessons on God’s Timing • God sets exact appointments – “There is an appointed time for everything” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). Nothing slides off His schedule. • His delays are purposeful, not hesitations – From year one of Zedekiah to year eleven, grace offered space to repent (2 Chronicles 36:15–16). Mercy governed the clock until justice had to speak. • Fulfillment is punctual – “At the right time Christ died for the ungodly” (Romans 5:6). Divine promises and divine judgments both arrive precisely when God determines. • Multiple plans synchronize – While Jerusalem fell, God simultaneously addressed surrounding nations. What looked like separate events formed one woven design (Isaiah 14:26–27). • The prophetic word is verifiable – Precise dates allow later generations to check God’s record. He invites scrutiny because He never misses. Living the Truth Today • Wait with confidence – If God kept a date in the eleventh year, He will keep every promise still pending (2 Peter 3:9). • Work while waiting – Noah built the ark before the rain; Ezekiel preached before the fall. Faith acts now, trusting the timetable God alone sees. • Stand in holy sobriety – Judgment came on schedule; salvation came on schedule (Galatians 4:4). The next appointment—the return of Christ—will be no different (Acts 17:31). • Rest in His sovereignty – The God who numbers years also numbers hairs (Luke 12:7). Personal seasons fit inside His grand calendar. |
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