Among the ancient prophetic writings are the scrolls of Ezekiel where we find mention of Noah, Daniel, and Job. In Ezekiel 14:13-14 we read, "Son of man, if a country sins against Me by being unfaithful and I stretch out My hand against it to cut off its food supply and send famine upon it and kill its men and their animals, even if these three men--Noah, Daniel and Job--were in it, they could save only themselves by their righteousness, declares the Sovereign LORD."

"Judgment Inescapable," "Judgment on Persistent Unfaithfulness," "The Certainty of the Lord's Judgment," "Individual Responsibility," and "The City Will Not Be Spared," are all paragraph titles suggested by various Bible translations to describe the words found in Ezekiel 14:12-23. God's judgment is the overwhelming theme for these verses. He spoke to the prophet Ezekiel and told him that He would bring disaster upon Jerusalem as a result of the nation of Israel persistently being unfaithful.

Note, this punishment is against a nation and is because of their unfaithfulness as a nation. The four dreadful judgments are: sword (war), famine, wild beasts, and plague (disease). The passage is systematically laid out to reflect on these four judgments. In verses 12-13 we see famine, verse 15 mentions wild beasts, verse 17 talks of the sword or war, and in verse 19 we see plague or disease. The four judgments are then combined in verse 21.

In Ezekiel 14:21 we read, "For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: How much worse will it be when I send against Jerusalem My four dreadful judgments--sword and famine and wild beasts and plague--to kill its men and their animals!" Hopefully, we have established that God told Ezekiel that He was going to send four judgments upon Jerusalem. Yet, among these we find mention of Noah, Daniel, and Job. These three men were all found to be righteous in the eyes of God.

So, why did God choose to name these three men when the passage clearly is about God's impending judgment? I believe God chose to use the literary tool of compare and contrast to teach us a couple key life lessons. The main contrast we find is a sinful nation vs. three righteous men. God will judge us individually and He will also judge us as a nation. Our actions do impact and affect others; despite what some may try to teach.

Another key life lesson might be found by reading the even numbered verses; 14, 16, 18, and 20. In Ezekiel 14:20 we read, "As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, they could save neither son nor daughter. They would save only themselves by their righteousness." Salvation is an individual responsibility. We cannot slide into heaven by the merits of our ancestors or those of our religious institutions. Nor can our righteous acts save others. Receiving and accepting God's free gift of salvation is still a personal decision.

Ezekiel is a prophetic book and this passage records the words given to Ezekiel regarding the future destruction of Jerusalem. Some have suggested that these words have been full-filled many times throughout Jerusalem's long history of being destroyed and rebuilt. I choose to agree and also disagree because the four judgments mentioned in Ezekiel chapter 14 are also referenced in Revelation 6:8. A third key life lesson might be the fact that our God keeps His promises. In 2 Peter 3:13 and Revelation 21:1 we are promised a new heaven and a new earth.

Fourthly, the God we serve is righteous and will judge both heaven and earth. In Psalm 7:11 we read, "God is a righteous judge, a God who expresses His wrath every day." Yes, God is a God of love; however, He is also a God of wrath. Jesus will come again to judge the living and the dead. (See 2 Timothy 4:1, Acts 10:42, and 1 Peter 4:5.)

The question remains, "Will we be found faithful and righteous as Noah, Daniel, and Job were?" I pray that we will. May we find comfort in the words found in 2 Peter 3:11-15. "You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire . . . But in keeping with His promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness . . . Make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with Him. Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation . . ." Amen.