8 “However, I will leave a remnant, for you will have those who escaped the sword among the nations when you are scattered among the countries. 9 Then those of you who escape will remember Me among the nations to which they will be carried captive, how I have [d]been hurt by their adulterous hearts which turned away from Me, and by their eyes which played the harlot after their idols; and they will loathe themselves in their own sight for the evils which they have committed, for all their abominations. 10 Then they will know that I am the Lord; I have not said in vain [e]that I would inflict this disaster on them.”’
11 “Thus says the Lord [f]God, ‘Clap your hand, stamp your foot and say, “Alas, because of all the evil abominations of the house of Israel, which will fall by sword, famine and plague! 12 He who is far off will die by the plague, and he who is near will fall by the sword, and he who remains and is besieged will die by the famine. Thus will I spend My wrath on them. 13 Then you will know that I am the Lord, when their slain are among their idols around their altars, on every high hill, on all the tops of the mountains, under every green tree and under every leafy oak—the places where they offered soothing aroma to all their idols. 14 So throughout all their habitations I will stretch out My hand against them and make the land more desolate and waste than the wilderness toward Diblah; thus they will know that I am the Lord.”’”
Things looked pretty hopeless for Israel, at least if they were paying any attention to the prophets who declared God’s messages. How could there be anything resembling hope when they would die by the sword and plague and famine? They would be slain among their idols, on the hills, mountains, under trees, anywhere and everywhere.
Then God has the audacity to promise that there would be a remnant, those whose hearts would finally remember God (v. 9). More than that, He promised they would return from captivity seventy years later. Perhaps now it didn’t seem so far fetched–if the destruction was indeed still future tense–but once the armies of Babylon had done their work?
Yet God would make it happen, despite all odds and any appearance to the contrary. The same happens in our lives, we look at our circumstances and ask simply, “How?” It’s beyond our understanding, and that should be no surprise with our limited and finite minds. But we don’t like it, we’d rather understand the whole plan.
When life takes a decidedly unexpected turn, we need to remember that it isn’t our role to understand the big picture. Certainly, we do our best to be wise and honor God with our decisions. However, the results are up to God, as He is the one and only in control of life, the Universe, and everything.
Ezekiel makes sure the people know who is speaking in v. 11 with the use of God’s proper name. We don’t see it the same because of translation, but it is accompanied by Lord which is Adonai in the original Hebrew. That is, Almighty, or as one translation puts it, Sovereign. He alone is, and was, and always will be, Sovereign and Almighty, and He is is control. Put your trust in Him, and keep walking in His steps.