When God says, “I Will"

Many times in Scripture God makes promises to His people (who include us!). What a gift it is to be able to apply these truths like a healing balm to our souls. May we learn to read the word of God as God’s word to us. 

One of the many helpful ways to read and search the Scriptures is to look for the places where God declares, “I will.”  This gives us insight into the promises of God, which, when read in their proper context, can be rightly understood as God’s personal word to us.

We find such a great example in this verse from Ezekiel.  We know that Ezekiel is a prophet and he certainly has had his share of wild visions (wheels, four living creatures, wings, thrones, and rushing waters – and that’s just in the first chapter)!  As we read through chapter 34, we find that God is displeased with the false shepherds (a common thread in the Old Testament prophetic books) and He will become the Shepherd for His covenant people.

Have a seat as you read Ezekiel 34:25-30.  It is magnificent, breath-taking, and brilliant.  Find all the places in that passage, including verse 34, where God declares, “I will.”  If you write each “I will” statement down, you will have a small list of God’s promises.

Let’s try it with this one verse.  God says:

• I will make them (God’s sheep) and the places around His hill a blessing, and
• I will send down showers of blessing in their season.

The showers of blessing promised by God to His people are a symbol for life, and that promise of life began with Abraham.  It continued throughout the storyline of Scripture and, in Jesus, has found its fulfillment.  God did provide a Shepherd for His people in Jesus.  God did send down showers of blessing upon His people in Jesus. 

Oh how sweet are the precious promises of God!