16 “And you, son of man, take a single stick and write on it: ‘Belonging to Judah and to the Israelites associated with him.’ Then take another stick and write on it: ‘Belonging to Joseph—the stick of Ephraim—and to all the house of Israel associated with him.’

17 Then join them together into one stick, so that they become one in your hand.

21 you are to tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I will take the Israelites out of the nations to which they have gone, and I will gather them from all around and bring them into their own land.

22 I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel, and one king will rule over all of them. Then they will no longer be two nations and will never again be divided into two kingdoms.

23 They will no longer defile themselves with their idols or detestable images, or with any of their transgressions. I will save them from all their apostasies by which they sinned, and I will cleanse them. Then they will be My people, and I will be their God.

— Ezekiel 37:16-17; 21-23

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, mercy and love from Christ to you.

God speaks in various ways so people will hear and understand His truth. Ezekiel delivered God’s truth in visual illustrations as well as verbal declarations. Following the vision of dry bones, God told Ezekiel to gather two sticks. On one he was to write, “Belonging to Judah and the Israelites associated with him.” He was to label other stick, “Belonging to Joseph (that is, to Ephraim) and all the Israelites associated with him.” The two sticks were to be joined together, becoming one in Ezekiel’s hand. God was telling Israel that they awaited not only a day of restoration but also a day of reunification.

The scattered, separated, exiled Israelites could anticipate a day their divided nation would reunite. After the exile, Israel would reemerge as a solitary nation, no longer two kingdoms divided by warring monarchies. Ezekiel’s prophecies promised the Israelites would reinhabit their land as one united people under God, who would dwell with them forever. While this prophecy was partially fulfilled after the exile, it points to the more distant future when Christ returns.
God’s work among His people will break down dividing walls and unite His people around the world.