It seems the whole world is in chaos these days, that sensibility, morality, and reason
have vanished. In culture, and even in some churches, good is considered evil, and evil as good. Where is God in the midst of the chaos and calamity?

While reading through Ezekiel recently, I was struck by how God’s word of doom and gloom to His people is appropriate today.

I finished Ezekiel and moved on, but one message lingers. God called Ezekiel to speak to Israel, because they were an impudent, stubborn, and rebellious people. Ezekiel was told to speak “whether they hear or whether they refuse—for they are a rebellious house” (Ezek. 2:3-4), “for they have refused My judgments, and they have not walked in My statues” (Ezek. 5:6). He then listed one calamity after another that will befall God’s children because of their rebellion.

Throughout history, God has blessed His children. They then get comfortable, lazy and distracted by things of the world. The next step is that they turn from Him. Ezekiel wrote in such a time of rebellion.

Through Ezekiel, God warned Israel that total destruction was coming. God’s chosen people would either die or be carried into Babylonian captivity.

He then added, “And they shall know that I am the Lord; I have not said in vain that I would bring this calamity upon them” (Ezek. 6:10)

God initiated the calamity on Israel. He did so because of their rebellion. His purpose was that they once again know that God was their Lord

As a nation, we are somewhat like Israel. America was founded on Christian principles, with God at the center, and has been identified as a Christian nation. We have also been abundantly blessed.

However, like Israel we have turned our backs on God–to the extent that there is now a concerted effort to ban Him from the nation. The faithful remnant of believers is not having much effect on the direction of our country. We are a rebellious nation.

Consequently, we should not be surprised by the chaos and anarchy around us. God, the only true God, is a jealous God.

When we turn from Him, He is longsuffering, and faithful, but there are consequences. If we continue to deny God, He will remove His hand from us. Indeed, He may call evil people or nations to destroy us.

However, we need to resist evil and the way of the world. In the midst of the chaos of rebellion, we need to remain faithful to the Lord even when we don’t understand what He’s doing. All calamity is not initiated by God, but His ways are higher than ours (Is. 55:9). We can never fully understand His purposes, but we can trust Him to be righteous and just.

In Ezekiel 37:28 God reveals that His purposes for the calamities are bigger than His chosen people. He said, “the nations will know that I am the Lord who sanctifies Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst forever.” It is repeated through the rest of the book that through observing God at work in Israel, they will come to know God.

He is God. His desire is that every knee bow and confess Him as Lord (Is. 45:23).

We find further clarity in Ezekiel 38:23: “And I shall magnify Myself, sanctify Myself, and make Myself known in the sight of many nations; and they will know that I am the Lord.”‘

He will do it. He will magnify Himself and make Himself known. We can preach, teach, demonstrate, and win political battles, but if the Lord is not leading, we labor in vain (Ps. 127:1). He is the source of all authority, power, and transformation.

God is on the move in the midst of the chaos, and His purposes will be realized. If we want to be on the winning team, it’s time to take stock and get firmly on His side.

We also need to realize that it’s not about us or about saving our great nation. It’s about the Lord God being lifted up so that all people will come to know Him.

People and nations come and go, but the kingdom of God is forever. Meanwhile, in the midst of the chaos, what do we need to do?

1. Seek to know God more intimately. When destruction comes on His people, it is so that we will seek Him, know Him, and serve Him with our whole heart (See 1 Chron. 28:9). The better we know Him, the better we can join Him in His work.
2. Be a daily testimony to life in Christ. Stand firm, faithful, obedient, and true to God, united as one, living in harmony with fellow believers. Show the love and share the truth of Jesus Christ to those who don’t know Him. Be His tools to accomplish His purpose.
3. Pray for God to be revealed. Only God can magnify Himself, sanctify Himself and make Himself known. Only God can work in peoples’ hearts. As we pray, we join God in His work, acknowledge His sovereignty, declare our dependence on Him, and call Him to action.

 

Father, in the midst of the chaos, help us to “be still, and know that [You are} God: [may You] be exalted among the heathen [and throughout all] the earth” (Ps. 46:10).

 

The Great Exchange: Bound by Blood reveals a concrete picture of God Who God is love and His love an faithfulness to those who follow Him. Order it here.