Ezekiel 12:17-28: a reflection

17Moreover the LORD’s word came to me, saying, 18“Son of man, eat your bread with quaking, and drink your water with trembling and with fearfulness. 19Tell the people of the land, ‘The Lord GOD says concerning the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the land of Israel: “They will eat their bread with fearfulness and drink their water in dismay, that her land may be desolate, and all that is therein, because of the violence of all those who dwell therein. 20The cities that are inhabited will be laid waste, and the land will be a desolation. Then you will know that I am the LORD.”’” 21The LORD’s word came to me, saying, 22“Son of man, what is this proverb that you have in the land of Israel, saying, ‘The days are prolonged, and every vision fails’? 23Tell them therefore, ‘The Lord GOD says: “I will make this proverb to cease, and they will no more use it as a proverb in Israel;”’ but tell them, ‘“The days are at hand, and the fulfillment of every vision. 24For there will be no more any false vision nor flattering divination within the house of Israel. 25For I am the LORD. I will speak, and the word that I speak will be performed. It will be no more deferred; for in your days, rebellious house, I will speak the word and will perform it,” says the Lord GOD.’” 26Again the LORD’s word came to me, saying, 27“Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, ‘The vision that he sees is for many days to come, and he prophesies of times that are far off.’ 28“Therefore tell them, ‘The Lord GOD says: “None of my words will be deferred any more, but the word which I speak will be performed,” says the Lord GOD.’”

The people of Israel had grown cynical about God's warnings. They had a proverb: The days grow long, and every vision comes to nothing. Because judgment had been threatened but delayed, they concluded it would never come; the prophecies, they said, were for far-off times, if they meant anything at all. But God answers them directly: I will put an end to that proverb; the days are at hand, and the fulfillment of every vision. None of my words will be delayed any longer; what I speak, I will perform.

Notice the error in the people's thinking: because God's word was delayed, they assumed it would never be fulfilled. The delay had bred a cynical presumption; they took the passing of time as evidence that God's warnings were empty. But God corrects them: the delay was not the same as never; his word would surely be fulfilled, and would not be deferred forever. What God had spoken, he would perform, in its time.

That is a caution against a presumption we can share: mistaking God's patience for God's inaction, assuming that because his word has not yet been fulfilled, it never will be. God's warnings, and his promises, are not made empty by delay; what he has spoken, he will perform, in his time. Do not presume, because God's word seems delayed, that it will not come to pass, whether it is a warning to be heeded or a promise to be hoped for. The delay is not the same as never; God's word will surely be fulfilled. Take God's word seriously even when its fulfillment tarries; do not, like these people, let delay breed a cynical presumption that his word is empty. What God has spoken, he will perform; wait for it, whether in warning or in hope, rather than dismissing it because it has not come yet.

Lord, the people had grown cynical, saying, the days grow long, and every vision comes to nothing; because your judgment was delayed, they assumed it would never come. But you answered, I will put an end to that proverb; none of my words will be delayed any longer; what I speak, I will perform. Caution me against that same presumption: mistaking your patience for your inaction, assuming that because your word has not yet been fulfilled, it never will be. Your warnings, and your promises, are not made empty by delay; what you have spoken, you will perform, in your time. Keep me from presuming, because your word seems delayed, that it will not come to pass, whether it is a warning to be heeded or a promise to be hoped for. The delay is not the same as never; your word will surely be fulfilled. Help me take your word seriously even when its fulfillment tarries, and not, like these people, let delay breed a cynical presumption that your word is empty. What you have spoken, you will perform; help me wait for it, whether in warning or in hope, Lord, rather than dismissing it because it has not come yet.