Around the Campfire: Week 2

Ezekiel trained and prepared to be a priest that served Yahweh before the people. This was a great honor and responsibility, and much sacrifice would have been made as he prepared to serve in this role. But when the time arrived for Ezekiel to serve, the temple was destroyed, and Ezekiel was exiled to a foreign land along with most of the Israelite people (Ezekiel 1). Ezekiel likely wandered if God would ever redeem His people. In this powerful vision, God encourages Ezekiel to know that God would indeed redeem His people. He would breathe new life in them. In the same way, we may wonder if God can and will redeem the brokenness and hopelessness that surrounds us. Like Ezekiel, we can be encouraged to know that God has promised to bring new life to all who look to Him. God has an ultimate plan (for His church and for the Jewish people). It involves bringing people to faith in Jesus Christ and restoring creation to all that it is intended to be. Regardless of how life may hurt and bring despair, we can hold on to hope.