I was naïve and he was being smug. It was the mid ’80’s, I was still pretty young in the faith, and I was eating up Josh McDowell’s “Evidence That Demands a Verdict.” Armed with all that “evidence”, I figured all I had to do was share the data with others and surely they’d believe too. So, I laid on him the fact that over 300 prophecies were fulfilled by Jesus’ earthly ministry and then I said something like, “If all that has come true in the past, then how likely is it that what Jesus predicted about His coming again will also happen?” To which his quick and sarcastic reply was something like, “Well, given that run of luck, I’d say the odds are against it.” Heavy sigh.

That wet blanket experience comes to mind this morning as a bit of repetition in Ezekiel reminds me that the fulfillment of prophecy isn’t a matter of the odds, it’s a matter of God.

Ezekiel prophesied among “the exiles” in Babylon (Ezek. 1:1-3). He spoke the word of the LORD concerning the impending and utter fall and destruction of Jerusalem (Ezek. 5). Yet, there were prophets back in Judah who were spinning a different story, saying something like “Nah, not gonna happen . . . the worst is over . . . there’s gonna be peace (Ezek. 13:10) . . . the odds are against it.” But as repeated three times this morning in my reading, it’s not about the odds.

“For there shall be no more any false vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel. For I am the LORD; I will speak the word that I will speak, and it will be performed. It will no longer be delayed, but in your days, O rebellious house, I will speak the word and perform it, declares the Lord GOD.”

And the word of the LORD came to me: “Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, ‘The vision that he sees is for many days from now, and he prophesies of times far off.’ Therefore say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: None of My words will be delayed any longer, but the word that I speak will be performed, declares the Lord GOD.”

(Ezekiel 12:24-28 ESV)

Hear the echo of emphasis? The shout that, the word that I speak will be performed?

The determining factor as to the veracity and certainty of the things that are to be is that they are promises and prophecies spoken by God. That’s true north. That’s the “money in the bank”, the surety of what is to come. If it is God-breathed (2Tim. 3:16) then it is to be believed.

So, how I need to be a person of the Word. How I need to know God’s word in order to provide wisdom and discernment as I try and make sense of the signs of the time. How I need to know God’s precepts and principles in order to navigate this pilgrim pathway as a modern day exile in this wretched Babylon. How I need the assurance of God’s promises in order to have an anchor for the storm and a pilot light that ignites the flame of inner renewal in my weariness.

I need to know afresh that the word He speaks, it will be performed.

Word of God speak!

Not relying on the odds. Solely dependent upon my God.

By His grace. For His glory.