What is the meaning of Ezekiel 20:35? And I will bring you into the wilderness of the nations • The phrase points to a literal regathering and relocation of Israel outside her land, echoing how the Lord “scattered them among the nations” (Ezekiel 20:23) and will, in the future, gather them again for refining. • “Wilderness” recalls the Exodus, when God led Israel through the desert to form them as His covenant people (Deuteronomy 8:2). In like manner, the nations become a modern-day desert—isolated, uncomfortable, yet purpose-built for spiritual purging. • Hosea 2:14 shows the Lord alluring Israel into the wilderness to speak tenderly; Revelation 12:6 pictures a woman (Israel) sheltered in the wilderness; both underscore God’s faithful preservation during times of trial. • The setting is not punishment for punishment’s sake; it is a staging ground for renewal, just as He preserved the remnant in the exile (Jeremiah 30:11). • By emphasizing “I will bring you,” the verse affirms God’s sovereign initiative. Israel is not lost at random; she is shepherded by the same hand that pledged, “I will restore you” (Jeremiah 32:37). where I will enter into judgment with you face to face • Judgment here is personal and direct, mirroring the way the Lord “contended with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt” (Ezekiel 20:36). This is covenant evaluation, not annihilation. • “Face to face” affirms relational accountability. As Amos 4:12 says, “Prepare to meet your God,” highlighting the inescapability of divine encounter. • Malachi 3:2–3 depicts the Lord as a refiner of silver, sitting close to the fire until He sees His reflection; likewise He will sift Israel until the dross is removed. • The same pattern extends to all humanity: “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:10). Yet for Israel, it culminates in national repentance and renewal foretold in Zechariah 12:10 and Romans 11:26. • This face-to-face judgment vindicates God’s holiness and secures the remnant’s wholehearted obedience promised in Ezekiel 36:27. summary Ezekiel 20:35 pictures God personally escorting Israel into a literal, refining wilderness among the nations, just as He once did in the Exodus. There He will deal with His people directly, purging rebellion and preserving a faithful remnant. The verse assures that the covenant-keeping Lord remains sovereign, purposeful, and relational, guiding His people through discipline toward ultimate restoration. |
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