We’ve talked about repetition in the Bible. The phrase “verily, verily” is an assertion of truth. When God says something two or three times, we know that He’s emphasizing it for a reason. So have you ever counted how many times the phrase, “And you shall know that I am the LORD,” is found in the book of Ezekiel? Some form of it is found 50 times! That’s amazing. In Ezekiel chapters 6-7 alone, it’s found seven times!
These are chapters delineating the unrighteousness of the various nations (including God’s people) and the consequences incurred by their violence, disobedience, pride, arrogance, and overall iniquity. After God states the judgement which will come upon them, He says, “And you shall know that I am the LORD.” He is God; the idols are nothing. God’s laws are to be obeyed; He is the omnipotent Judge; He will be recognized as the only God.
But there is also an intimation that they didn’t know God; if they had truly known God, they wouldn’t have been doing the things they were doing. This same idea is in Hebrews 3:12, Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. An unbelieving heart causes disobedience of, and rebellion toward, God.
Unbelief, furthermore, caused a lack of miracles. Look at Matthew 13:58, And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief. Mark 6:6 records Jesus’ response: And he marveled because of their unbelief.
To say that this is not good is an understatement! That Jesus would marvel at the unbelief of the people is striking. He is, after all, the One who created mankind. You wouldn’t think that we could do anything that would surprise Him. But the unbelief of the people of His hometown amazed Him.
But we, the people of God today, we wouldn’t be guilty of unbelief. Would we? Take a look at this scripture:
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, (Hebrews 12:1)
It is not an accident that those witnesses are found in the preceding chapter - the Hall of Faith. These are the true believers who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. 36Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— 38of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. (Hebrews 11:33-38)
These believers, this great cloud of witnesses, showed their faith through their deeds - regardless of whether it meant great victories over fire and lions and war or whether it meant suffering, pain, imprisonment, or death. They ran their race with endurance - because of their belief in our Great God, because of the hope set before them.
In a word, they knew God. Do you know the Lord your God like that? But really, more than us knowing God, we must be known of God (Galatians 4:9). We know how very important that is (Matthew 7:23)! So what do your actions say? Do you know God? Are you known of Him? Or do you have an evil heart of unbelief?
These are chapters delineating the unrighteousness of the various nations (including God’s people) and the consequences incurred by their violence, disobedience, pride, arrogance, and overall iniquity. After God states the judgement which will come upon them, He says, “And you shall know that I am the LORD.” He is God; the idols are nothing. God’s laws are to be obeyed; He is the omnipotent Judge; He will be recognized as the only God.
But there is also an intimation that they didn’t know God; if they had truly known God, they wouldn’t have been doing the things they were doing. This same idea is in Hebrews 3:12, Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. An unbelieving heart causes disobedience of, and rebellion toward, God.
Unbelief, furthermore, caused a lack of miracles. Look at Matthew 13:58, And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief. Mark 6:6 records Jesus’ response: And he marveled because of their unbelief.
To say that this is not good is an understatement! That Jesus would marvel at the unbelief of the people is striking. He is, after all, the One who created mankind. You wouldn’t think that we could do anything that would surprise Him. But the unbelief of the people of His hometown amazed Him.
But we, the people of God today, we wouldn’t be guilty of unbelief. Would we? Take a look at this scripture:
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, (Hebrews 12:1)
It is not an accident that those witnesses are found in the preceding chapter - the Hall of Faith. These are the true believers who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. 36Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— 38of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. (Hebrews 11:33-38)
These believers, this great cloud of witnesses, showed their faith through their deeds - regardless of whether it meant great victories over fire and lions and war or whether it meant suffering, pain, imprisonment, or death. They ran their race with endurance - because of their belief in our Great God, because of the hope set before them.
In a word, they knew God. Do you know the Lord your God like that? But really, more than us knowing God, we must be known of God (Galatians 4:9). We know how very important that is (Matthew 7:23)! So what do your actions say? Do you know God? Are you known of Him? Or do you have an evil heart of unbelief?
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