The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, the people of Jerusalem have said of your fellow exiles and all the other Israelites, ‘They are far away from the Lord; this land was given to us as our possession.’ “Therefore say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Although I sent them far away among the nations and scattered them among the countries, yet for a little while I have been a sanctuary for them in the countries where they have gone.’ Ezekiel 11:14-16 NIV
Let’s start with a little background to get the context of this passage. The Israelites, God’s people, had disobeyed him again and again. After multiple warnings, God stayed true to His word and allowed them to be taken into captivity. Most of the inhabitants of Jerusalem were taken into exile, but a remnant were left behind and remained in the broken down city. We can glean two very relevant lessons from these verses.
First, those who were spared from the pain of captivity should not have been gloating over those who were struggling through it as if they were spared for some righteousness of their own. We need to be very careful that we don’t develop a prideful attitude of superiority when we see others suffering at the hand of the enemy. We must remember that we are only where we are by God’s grace. There is nothing good in us, except Jesus and the righteousness He brings when He takes up residency in our lives. Our compassion for our brothers and sisters who are reaping painful consequences of sin must always reflect the mercy and love of God. We must remember that none of us stands righteous before the Father.
Secondly, if you are one who is suffering captivity at the hand of the enemy, know that God will be your sanctuary! Even as you struggle through the consequences of your own sinful choices, God is right there with you, offering you protection and a place of peace. He never abandons His children, not even when they are enduring His discipline! His love is constant! Nothing you have done can separate you from His love! Take hope as you read the next verses in this text!
“Therefore say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will gather you from the nations and bring you back from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you back the land of Israel again.’ “They will return to it and remove all its vile images and detestable idols. I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God. Ezekiel 11:17-20 NIV
The end of your story has not yet been written, and the good news is, God can give it a happy ending! He is committed to restore you and bring you out of captivity. The enemy may have won a few battles in your life, but God will win the war! You can come back and remove the detestable idols that tripped you up in the first place! God will give you an undivided heart and a new spirit to help you follow His decrees and keep His laws. You are His child and He is still your God! Find new hope in these thoughts and run to Him, enjoying His offer to be your sanctuary!