SCRIPTURE: Ezekiel 14
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Yet there will be some survivors—sons and daughters who will be brought out of it. They will come to you, and when you see their conduct and their actions, you will be consoled regarding the disaster I have brought on Jerusalem—every disaster I have brought on it. You will be consoled when you see their conduct and their actions, for you will know that I have done nothing in it without cause, declares the Sovereign LORD.” [Ezekiel 14:22-23]
Things were so bad that not even some of the great advocates in Jewish history (Noah, Daniel, Job) could turn things around.
It’s almost as if there is no hope at all, God’s plan has failed, His Israel project is done!
But then out of the ashes of judgment there comes a faithful remnant, sons and daughters of Israel who turn back to God.
And when Ezekiel sees how their lives are changed, he will be consoled.
Yes, there is still hope, God’s plan has not failed.

As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” [Luke 21:1-4]
Jesus spends much of His time challenging the religious leaders, and in Luke 21 He talks about the upcoming destruction of Jerusalem – sounds like Ezekiel.
But as He is in the temple, He also sees a sign of hope.
His focus is not on the hollow donations of the pious hypocrites, but on the wholehearted pennies of an impoverished widow.
And He is consoled, encouraged, blessed.

We may be concerned about how God administers justice in the world, but when we see what it is He is doing for good, how He is raising up humble, sincere, loving and generous servants, we can be consoled.
God is not just stirring the pot of the world for fun, He is working to set things right.
He is dealing with sin seriously because He is committed to raising up a people – and a world – characterized by goodness and love and compassion and generosity.
The world is not a mess because of God; in fact, it would be worse without God!
The devil wants us to focus on evil and blame God.
But here the Lord urges us to focus on goodness, and be consoled.

Where are the righteous widows around us?
Where are the signs of goodness and love and compassion and generosity.
Focus on these things, and be consoled – God is at work restoring His world through all that He does, He has done nothing in it without cause!
Thank God for what He is doing, it would be much worse if He wasn’t doing it!
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. [Philippians 4:8]
If we focus on these things, we will see God, and be consoled!

PRAYER:
Lord, help me to look by faith towards what You are doing, and not allow Satan to distract me by all the evil that we have unleashed in this world.