SàThen my people will know that I am the Lord their God, because I sent them away to exile and brought them home again. I will leave none of my people behind. (Ezekiel 39:28)
HàI’ve heard the story so much that is doesn’t occur to me how bazaar it really is. Israel will know that God is God because He sent them away and brought them back. Its as if Israel will not know who God is until God sends them away into exile and then brings them back. They still don’t know who God is if they remain in exile and they don’t know who God is if they don’t go to exile…but they will know who God is if they experience being sent into exile and being brought back home. This cycle of being sent away and being brought back allows Israel to know who God is.
AàThis sounds ridiculous to me. What kind of God would not allow me to know Him unless He sends me into exile and brings me back? What kind of God would require this experience to know who He is? I guess it would be the same kind of God what would actually send His son to die to bring me back from exile which seems equally absurd and bazaar. Its pretty safe to say that I don’t get it but I do know that I didn’t know God until I experienced exile and being brought out of exile. It wasn’t until this journey to exile and back in my life that I knew who God is. This truth I do not understand but know that is the truth and experience of Israel and my life….and I praise God for it!
PàLord, I come to you today with as many questions as I have answers. On one level I realize that I do not get you or your way of doing things in the world; your way seems so contrary to my world and your ways don’t make sense in my mind. On the other level I come to you trusting your ways and knowing that it is through my journey to exile and back to you through Jesus Christ that I know who you are. Help me to know you more even if that means me going to exile only to come back with a greater knowledge and understanding of you. Amen.
EàAs painful as it may be the journey to exile and back is what led me to know who God is.
