(REFLECTIONS ON EZEKIEL 25:8-17)

When we think about someone stretching out their hand, what do we think of? Perhaps we think of someone stretching out their hand to help those that are in need. We can also imagine someone stretching out their hand in worship to receive blessings from God. It perhaps also makes us think of the Lord stretching out His hands to heal.

In the Bible, we actually see several examples of stretching out of the hands:

  1. Jesus telling a man to stretch out his hands to receive healing of his shriveled hand during the Sabbath (Matthew 12)
  2. Moses stretching out his hands for the Lord to part the Red Sea (Exodus 14)
  3. The disciples praying together after the release of Peter and John (Acts 4) to the Lord saying, “Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
  4. The psalmist stretching out their hands to the Lord in prayer (Psalm 143)

In today’s Scripture, however, we see the Lord stretching out His hands as an act of judgment, to take vengeance on the nations for rejoicing at the fall of Jerusalem. We see then that the Lord stretching out His hands can be for judgment and punishment, and also for healing and salvation.

As we read today’s Scripture, it reminds us that as we speak about forgiveness, mercy, and grace in our faith, there is another side to the story that we sometimes forget. Why do we need forgiveness, mercy and grace? It is because like Israel, like the nations, we all fall short of the glory of God. God is a holy God, and we are an unholy people, and that is why we need His forgiveness, mercy and grace.

Yes, we like to think about the good things of our faith, the forgiveness for our sins, the mercy and grace poured upon faithful followers of Christ. But, we are also reminded that we first must acknowledge that we are in need of forgiveness, mercy and grace. Yes, the Lord stretches out His hand to heal us, to give us life, and pour out His grace upon us, but that is because we are a broken people in need of His mercies.

The Old Testament, the prophets, Ezekiel, reminds us that we are a people that are in need of the Lord’s mercies, because His vengeance is great. Knowing our need, we then look to the cross, to the Lord’s Son, Jesus Christ, who is our hope and our Savior.

The Lord says, “I will stretch out my hand.” May we come before Him today and receive not vengeance, but His forgiveness, mercy and grace, through His Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Pastor Michael Lu
Enduring Word Bible Commentary: Ezekiel 25