A faithful remnant

Ezekiel 14:12-23

In Noah's story, depending on your sources, millions or billions of people died (Genesis 6-8). Those who opposed Daniel and his three friends were "torn limb from limb" or didn't last long in the lion's den (Daniel 3, 6). And just about everyone in Job's life died. All that to say, death surrounds these biblical heroes. A lot of death. In one of Ezekiel's visions, death would still follow them. The prophet's message was that of God's coming judgement. God's people had not been faithful, taking "their idols into their hearts" (Ezekiel 14:3). So much so, the impending consequence could not be avoided. Not even if Noah, Daniel and Job showed up together in one place! No ark, no lion's den and no dung heap would halt God's coming judgement. Humans and animals would be "cut off" from Jerusalem (14:21). But a remnant would remain. What a glorious reminder repeated in scripture! This remnant would offer consolation and hope to those who withstood God's judgment. I can't decide how Ezekiel saw this happening. It could be their previous unfaithfulness would be clear. That would demonstrate God's just cause and the need to repent. Or their repentance would be obvious. That would show the necessity for a renewed repentance. Either way, don't miss repentance. Bringing together the stories of Noah, Daniel and Job, Ezekiel offers a faith lesson. In the midst of sorrow, sin and injustice, our call is to remain steadfast in our trust in God. Don't take that to mean we must be silent or out of the way. Noah built, Daniel prayed and Job complained. But it is God's promise to carry out justice. Whatever judgment is coming is God's, not ours. Often, we're too good at and too willing to pick at the speck in our brother's eye. I wonder what damage the log in our eye does to those around us. Instead of trying to be judgement makers, let's be a faithful remnant. We can't doom or save the world, but we can show the world how good God is. Stay blessed...john