Rain Storm- Ezekiel

Let us know, let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord. His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, like the latter and former rain of the earth. Hosea 6:3

Today is Thanksgiving Day. It is pouring down rain. It's wonderful but not so good for travelers. This winter storm has been named...Ezekiel. What does this mean? So I went to Ezekiel, the book, to find rain scriptures. Strong's concordance lists 2 scriptures. 

Hmmm? Often, the Lord speaks through current events. He is always speaking.... but, sometimes we are not listening. In the book of Job, it says, God sends the rain so mankind will stop and listen; stop and take note, cease all activity (Job 37:7). 

Like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the brightness all around it. 

This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. So when I saw it, I fell on my face, and heard the voice of One speaking. Ezekiel 1:28

I could stop right there and rest in that word. Stop talking and writing and just bask in the glory of that scripture. 

Fall on your face and allow the glory of the Lord to speak to all of our circumstance, all of our current events, all of who we are as believers, wherever we are living.

In scripture, the rain speaks of glory, righteousness and blessing. The enforcement, the enacting of justice is inferred as a part of righteousness. The rain of God can fall as mercy and it can fall as judgment.

It is a washing, watering, cleansing, life giving kind of rain. Always, in the end, rain brings goodness and life as in Isaiah 55: 8-12. I encourage you to read this in its entirety. Here's just a hint:

For my thoughts are not your thoughts....For as the rain comes down.....so shall my Word be that goes forth from my mouth.

So what is on the Lord's mind right now? What is He telling us? You know He has a plan! There are two scriptures in Ezekiel regarding the rain. 

The second scripture is Ezekiel 38:22 and it is about judgment toward Gog and Magog. Verse 20 speaks of a great shaking within the earth for the sake of His people, Israel. His people includes us because we are engrafted into the original olive tree.

and all men who are on the face of the earth shall shake at my presence. The mountains shall be thrown down, the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground. 

Mountains speak of governmental places and strongholds and powerful authorities in the earth. I looked up Gog and Magog and it is interesting to note, this refers to mountains and areas somewhat north of Israel. Gog literally means- mountain.

I realize there have been speculations and interpretations (well studied and well thought out) which have been taught, applied and widely circulated on this very subject of Gog and Magog. I personally think we should take a step back from some of those.

I will tell you right now, I don't subscribe to any of the "last day" or "end time" interpretations of scripture which have been propagated in both the secular and Christian media. I don't subscribe to doom and gloom. Believers are not under the anger of the Lord. 

Revelation tells us He is angry with the "destroyers of the earth". That would include those who are destroying people and species and life giving aspects of our planet. 

Now I do realize we will be affected due to these judgments but differently than those under His scrutiny. But this blog is not about last days, its about new beginnings.

That's just my view but I am not a scholar or specialist in last day prophecy or theology. I don't really believe anyone is....a specialist....or authority.... because of the example we have in the New Testament. 

Those most learned men of bible days, had no clue, they were missing the relationship  and intimacy with the Lord of the Word. Yet they knew the language and the scripture better than we ever will. Can our modern day scholars compete with the learned men of Bible days?

The learned men of Jesus' time knew all the prophecies and they knew all the biblical warnings yet they did not know how to interpret them. 

I am not faulting them because the disciples did not know after 3 1/2 years; they needed the resurrected Lord to encounter them and teach them.

They all needed the Lord to open their eyes just as He did for the blind man. I think this mystery is of design, divine design.

The Bible speaks of mysteries... 12 times. There is a reason for this: it was planned this way, so the enemy doesn't know the outcome or ultimate plans of the Captain of the Host.

He does tell us He won't do anything without letting us know. Without letting His listening ones know. Prophecy is for our sign posts but we cannot put them all together until the last puzzle piece goes into its place.

It is important to know them and to attentively look to the Lord for the understanding and interpretation. Are you okay with living in the flux, living in the Mystery?

It's okay if you are leaning on Him. We are kept on a "need to know" basis because it is more about getting to know Him rather than His plan alone.

So, I said all that to turn our attention back to reading the scriptures and listening with fresh ears. I just want us to take a step back and stop interpreting all we hear through old teaching and old mind sets.

 We can sometimes be so "programed" that we stop resting and listening to the fresh sound of the rain. The rain represents His new sound, His life giving Words. 

This is what I think the Winter Storm- Ezekiel, is saying to us right now....

Fall on your face and listen to His magnificent voice. You can hear it in the rain. 

I am listening to it right now, typing next to my window, in the front of my house near the street. I can see it and hear it, what a beautiful sight and what a  magnificent sound. 

It causes me to stop, look and listen for His glory and His voice. There is nothing more refreshing than the sound of the rain. There is nothing more refreshing than hearing the sound of His voice.

Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord, till he comes and rains righteousness on you. Hosea 10:12