Main Idea: The living God cannot be denied forever.
A Look at the Text:
In today’s text, the scene shifts significantly from God’s judgment of Judah to His judgment against the nations, beginning with the Ammonites, an enemy nation to the east.
They celebrated the destruction of Judah and the profaning of God’s sanctuary and, as such, would pay for their pride (Ezek. 25:1-4). In judgment, they would know He is the Lord, Yahweh, and that He is the living God (Ezek. 25:5, 7).
Likewise, the Moabites would suffer His judgment and know that He is the Lord (Ezek. 25:11). Edom would know His vengeance because they aided Babylon in Judah’s time of weakness (Ezek. 25:12-14). The Philistines would likewise know God’s vengeance and know He is the Lord (Ezek. 25:17).
Even more, the great city, Tyre, would know He is the Lord (Ezek. 26:6). Though they were renowned and mighty, they would fall (Ezek. 26:17-18). God would bring them to a dreadful end (Ezek. 26:21).
Bringing it Home:
The testimony of the Bible again and again is that God’s glory will be revealed, that His name will be great amongst the nations, and that He will be fully known:
For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea (Hab. 2:14).
Many nations opposed Israel, and in so doing they were denying Israel’s God.
From the beginning, when a foolish Egyptian Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and moreover, I will not let Israel go” (Ex. 5:2), through the Babylonian captivity He was denied. Yet, He revealed Himself continually through His mighty acts and His keeping of Israel through countless trials.
All who said, “I do not know the Lord,” were shown that they would know Him in time.
While many might deny Him today, they are merely suppressing the truth that is all around them (Rom. 1:18-20). The evidence of God in creation is so undeniable that no one can rightfully ignore Him. His gracious acts throughout history and His present governance of His creation are undeniable. His final revelation is inescapable.
People may profess they don’t believe in Him today, but He cannot be denied forever. To all who say, “Who is the Lord? I’ve never heard of Him,” the testimony of the Bible is, “Just wait and see.”
Challenge:
Do I believe atheism is really real?