Ezekiel 39:1-6: a reflection

1“You, son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, ‘The Lord GOD says: “Behold, I am against you, Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal. 2I will turn you around, will lead you on, and will cause you to come up from the uttermost parts of the north; and I will bring you onto the mountains of Israel. 3I will strike your bow out of your left hand, and will cause your arrows to fall out of your right hand. 4You will fall on the mountains of Israel, you, and all your hordes, and the peoples who are with you. I will give you to the ravenous birds of every sort and to the animals of the field to be devoured. 5You will fall on the open field, for I have spoken it,” says the Lord GOD. 6“I will send a fire on Magog and on those who dwell securely in the islands. Then they will know that I am the LORD.

In the prophecy against Gog, as God declares that he will overthrow this great hostile power, he gives the purpose behind it, a purpose that recurs throughout Ezekiel: Then they will know that I am the LORD. God's aim in his acts, even in judgment, is that he be known and acknowledged as the LORD, the true God. It is not merely the defeat of an enemy that God seeks, but that, through his acts, both his people and the nations would come to know him as God. His deepest purpose is to be known; his acts in history serve the end that he be acknowledged as the LORD.

Notice the purpose God names: that they will know that I am the LORD. Behind God's acts, even his acts of judgment against a hostile power, lies this purpose: that he be known and acknowledged as God. He is not content to remain unknown or unacknowledged; his purpose is that his people and the nations would come to know him as the LORD, the true and only God. His acts in history are directed toward this end, that he be known. God desires to be known as God, not out of vanity, but because he is God, and to know him is life; his purpose that all acknowledge him as the LORD is bound up with his desire that they turn to him and live. That they would know him as God was the aim.

That is worth taking to heart, for God's purpose is that we come to know and acknowledge him as the LORD, the true God. We can live as though God were unknown or unacknowledged, giving him no place; but God's purpose, running through his acts, is that we come to know him as God, to acknowledge him as the LORD. He desires to be known, not out of vanity but because he is God and knowing him is our life. Do not live as though God were unknown or unacknowledged; his purpose is that you come to know him as the LORD, the true God, and acknowledge him. Come to know and acknowledge God as the LORD, the true God, giving him his rightful place, as his purpose runs through all his acts that his people and the nations would know that he is the LORD; for God desires to be known as God, not out of vanity but because he is God and to know him is life, and his deepest purpose is that we acknowledge him as the LORD.

Lord, in the prophecy against Gog, as you declare that you will overthrow this great hostile power, you give the purpose behind it, a purpose that recurs throughout Ezekiel: then they will know that I am the LORD. Your aim in your acts, even in judgment, is that you be known and acknowledged as the LORD, the true God. It is not merely the defeat of an enemy that you seek, but that, through your acts, both your people and the nations would come to know you as God. Your deepest purpose is to be known. Show me the purpose you name: that they will know that I am the LORD. Behind your acts lies this purpose: that you be known and acknowledged as God. You are not content to remain unknown or unacknowledged; your purpose is that your people and the nations would come to know you as the LORD. Your acts in history are directed toward this end. You desire to be known as God, not out of vanity, but because you are God, and to know you is life. That they would know you as God was the aim. Take that to my heart, for your purpose is that I come to know and acknowledge you as the LORD, the true God. I can live as though you were unknown or unacknowledged, giving you no place; but your purpose, running through your acts, is that I come to know you as God, to acknowledge you as the LORD. You desire to be known, not out of vanity but because you are God and knowing you is my life. Keep me from living as though you were unknown or unacknowledged; your purpose is that I come to know you as the LORD, Lord. Help me come to know and acknowledge you as the true God, giving you your rightful place.