DEVOTION – DAY 162

Ezekiel 38:23 “The Greatness Of God”

 

Eze.38:23 And so I will show my greatness and my holiness, and I will make myself known in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord

Have you noticed how the world is experiencing severe climate changes? Recently, parts of western Canada and North West USA have been experiencing temperatures that were around 45C to 49C. The intense heat broke records and started wildfires in British Columbia that destroyed one entire community. Then, there were serious floods in China, Germany and Belgium and USA.  Japan experienced heavy rain causing mudslides that devastated the town of Atami. Just as a number of countries thought they were ready to reopen their economies as their populations have been vaccinated against Covid-19, the latest variants of the virus are causing many countries to reintroduce lockdowns instead. All these events show that people in every nation are helpless because they cannot control the natural world around them, or the weather, or the spread of new virus strains.

In Ezekiel 38, God through the prophet Ezekiel proclaimed His victory over nations that were against Him. In vs.22, the Lord said He would send judgment upon the nations in the form of plague, torrents of rain, hailstones and burning sulfur. Such displays will show the world that people are not in control. God will reveal His greatness. His holiness will be revealed by the way He will judge those that were wicked. Canada who had suffered the worst heatwave had been guilty of oppressing their native Indian population for a long time. Unmarked mass graves of native Indian children have been found recently in British Columbia that pointed to a dark past that Canada had hushed up as a nation. Japan had suffered from tsunamis, nuclear disasters and now mudslides. The nation had been resistant to Christianity and remained largely Buddhist and Shinto followers. Japan also persecuted Christians and even outlawed Christianity in its past.

In truth, every nation has been guilty of sins against the Lord. And God in every age uses natural disasters and plagues to draw the nations and its people to realize how much they need Him. The natural disasters that God allows are not acts of punishment but more acting as a wake-up call to people to turn to Him as the one true Living God. God is gracious. Instead of wiping out this world, He allows natural disasters to help people to realize that there is a great, just and holy God, and they need to turn to Him.

 

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, we worship you because you are awesome, and there is evidence everywhere that testify to your greatness and holiness. May that draw many people to the saving grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. In His matchless name we pray. Amen.

 

Questions

  1. What are some ways people around the world conduct themselves as if they rule the world and that God does not exist?
  2. How do natural disasters reveal that man is not in control of their circumstances?
  3. How do natural disasters reveal the greatness and holiness of God? Discuss.
  4. How can you help someone know God’s goodness, greatness and holiness?