Ezekiel 38:23 Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD.
Don’t Forget Why You Do What You Do
Quite frequently in my Bible reading, I come to passages where I don’t understand exactly what God is talking about, what He has done, what He will do, or how. This is often true when I am reading prophetical passages addressing what God will do in the future. Ezekiel 38-39 is one such prophetical passage. These chapters deal with Gog, Magog, and a host of other nations, and describe the violent, severe judgment that God is going to rain upon these wicked nations.
That much I know. If I took some time to study, I could probably find more detail. But what God wants us to know He wants us to know because of how it will affect the way we live right now. And as to that, I think I do have the answer to the most important question surrounding these two chapters. That question is, “Why will God do what He is going to do?”
Well, even in a brief reading that becomes clear fairly quickly. Ezekiel 38:23 says, “Thus will I magnify myself and sanctify myself and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD.” In Ezekiel 38:16 God says He will send this judgment “that the heathen may know me.” Chapter 39 continues this theme:
“They shall know that I am the LORD” (v.6). “So will I make my holy name known” (v. 7). “I shall be glorified saith the LORD” (v. 13). “I will set my glory among the heathen” (v.21). “So the house of Israel shall know that I am the LORD their God” (v.22). “And the heathen shall know” (v.23). “Then shall they know that I am the LORD their God” (v.28).
I may not know all the details about what is yet to occur, but one thing that is abundantly clear is why this will happen. God is very much in earnest about our knowing Who He is. We may not understand the what, who, when, or how of God’s action in the future, but we do know that God wishes to be recognized.
God’s dealings with man are intended for man to recognize God’s greatness and his own need. That truth can motivate my actions today. If God does what He does so He will be known and glorified, then that can be the reason for which I do what I’m doing today.
Sometimes we get so caught up in what we are doing and how well we are doing it that we forget to ask ourselves why we are doing it. Don’t spend a moment improving what you’re doing until you take a moment to consider why you’re doing it and who is being recognized for it.