What is the meaning of Ezekiel 38:23? I will magnify Myself God declares that He will enlarge His reputation and display His greatness. Throughout Scripture, the Lord invites people to “Magnify the LORD with me” (Psalm 34:3). Here, however, He takes the initiative. By defeating the coalition of Gog (Ezekiel 38:18–22), He will: • Showcase His unmatched power, echoing the Red Sea deliverance (Exodus 15:11). • Silence every rival claim to glory, fulfilling Isaiah 2:11, where “the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.” The message is simple: human schemes will only amplify God’s brilliance. and sanctify Myself To sanctify is to set apart as holy. God’s actions against the invaders will underline His absolute moral purity and justice, much as He said of Egypt, “I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army” (Exodus 14:4). Ezekiel has stressed this theme before: “I acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned” (Ezekiel 20:9). By judging evil, the Lord: • Confirms His holiness (Isaiah 5:16). • Separates Himself from every false deity that seeks equal footing (Jeremiah 10:10–11). His people are assured that their God is never compromised by the wickedness He judges. and I will reveal Myself in the sight of many nations Revelation here is public, unmistakable, and global. Similar moments appear when the fire fell on Carmel and the people cried, “The LORD, He is God!” (1 Kings 18:38–39). In Ezekiel 38, the: • Scale—“many nations”—points to a worldwide audience, foreshadowing every eye seeing Christ’s return (Matthew 24:30). • Method—supernatural intervention with earthquake, hailstones, and fire (Ezekiel 38:19–22)—ensures no one can dismiss it as coincidence. Psalm 46:10 captures the heart: “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations.” Then they will know that I am the LORD This recurring refrain in Ezekiel (over 60 times) signals the goal of God’s acts. Knowledge here is relational, not merely intellectual, similar to Exodus 7:5—“The Egyptians will know that I am the LORD.” The outcome: • Israel’s enemies recognize His sovereignty, even if grudgingly (Psalm 83:17–18). • Israel herself gains renewed confidence in the covenant-keeping God (Ezekiel 39:7). The future scene anticipates the universal confession Paul describes: “Every knee shall bow… every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord” (Philippians 2:10–11). summary Ezekiel 38:23 promises a dramatic display of God’s greatness, holiness, and self-revelation that leaves the world without excuse. By magnifying and sanctifying Himself, He ensures His name is honored; by revealing Himself before many nations, He draws global attention; and the result is unmistakable recognition that He alone is the LORD. |
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