What does it mean that “The Lord is there”? As we finish the book of Ezekiel in our chronological Bible reading plan, we encounter some of the most difficult and debated chapters in all of Scripture. Ezekiel 43–48 contains an incredibly detailed vision of a future temple, complete with measurements, boundaries, priests, sacrifices, land allotments, and a life-giving river. But even when we don't understand every detail, we can understand something unmistakable about the God who gave Ezekiel this vision: God desires to dwell with His people. In this episode of The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms, Stephanie Hickox walks through Ezekiel 43–48 and considers what these difficult chapters reveal about God's holiness, His presence, His order, His faithfulness, and His good plan for His people. And as moms, we're reminded that we don't have to understand every detail of God's plan before we can faithfully obey Him. In This Episode of The Dwelling PlaceWe'll explore: Why Ezekiel 43–48 are some of the most difficult and debated chapters in ScriptureThe detailed vision of Ezekiel's future temple and why its measurements matterWhat the return of God's glory to the temple reveals about His desire to dwell with His peopleWhy God's presence is always connected with holiness and repentanceWhat Ezekiel's remarkable obedience teaches us about faithfully following GodWhy we can trust God's Word even when we don't understand every detailThe difference between the common and the sacredWhat Ezekiel 45 teaches about justice, righteousness, generosity, and leadershipWhy the Sabbath and corporate worship continue to matterThe purpose of sacrifices in Ezekiel's temple vision and how they point us back to ChristThe extraordinary river flowing from the temple in Ezekiel 47Why the absence of the Ark of the Covenant is significantThe connection between Ezekiel's temple, God's presence, and the biblical theme of dwelling with His peopleThe meaning of Yahweh Shammah—“The Lord is there”How these chapters challenge us toward greater holiness and obedienceWhat Ezekiel can teach Christian moms about trusting God's plan even when we don't have all the answers When the Bible Feels DifficultHave you ever reached a section of your Bible reading plan and thought, I have no idea what I'm supposed to do with this? Ezekiel's temple vision can certainly feel that way. There are measurements upon measurements, detailed architectural instructions, priests, sacrifices, land boundaries, and a massive river flowing from the temple. And there are faithful Christians who interpret these chapters differently. But we don't have to resolve every theological question before we can be encouraged by God's Word. We can approach difficult Scripture with humility and faith, remembering that God's Word is intentional even when our understanding is incomplete. As moms, this is a valuable lesson for our children, too. We don't need to pretend that we have every answer. We can teach our children to approach Scripture with confidence in God's character while remaining humble about the things we don't yet understand. “My Dwelling Place Shall Be With Them”One of the most beautiful themes throughout Ezekiel is God's presence. Earlier in the book, Ezekiel witnessed the devastating departure of God's glory from the temple because of Israel's sin. Now, in this final vision, God's glory returns. Ezekiel 43 describes the glory of the Lord filling the temple, and God declares that this is the place where He will dwell among His people. And then Ezekiel ends with the name of the city: “The Lord is there.” — Ezekiel 48:35 This isn't a random detail. From Genesis to Revelation, Scripture tells the story of a holy God making a way to dwell with His people. That is the heart behind The Dwelling Place. God is not distant or indifferent. His plan has always been to bring His people into His presence. What Ezekiel Teaches Us About ParentingEzekiel's faithfulness is one of the things that stands out most throughout this book. God repeatedly gave Ezekiel difficult assignments, and Ezekiel simply obeyed. He didn't need to understand everything before he acted. He didn't need the assignment to be easy. He didn't need to know exactly how God's plans would unfold. He did as he was commanded. That is a powerful example for Christian moms. Motherhood is filled with details, decisions, responsibilities, and moments when we simply don't know what we're doing. We may want God to give us the entire blueprint before we take the next step. But often, He gives us something better: His Word for today. We don't need to know every detail of God's plan for our children, our families, or our future. We need to know Him, trust Him, and faithfully obey what He has already revealed. God's Presence Produces HolinessEzekiel's temple vision also reminds us that God's desire to dwell with His people doesn't mean He takes holiness less seriously. Quite the opposite. God's presence is holy. The people are called to recognize their sin, repent, and live differently. That matters in biblical parenting, because our goal shouldn't simply be to raise children who behave well enough to avoid consequences. We want to help our children understand that obedience flows from a heart that knows and loves God. We can teach them: God's holiness matters.Sin matters.Repentance matters.How we treat other people matters.Our choices reveal what we love.God is worthy of our obedience. Christian parenting isn't ultimately about producing outwardly compliant children. It's about faithfully pointing our children toward the holy God who made them, loves them, and calls them to Himself. A River That Brings LifeEzekiel 47 gives us one of the most breathtaking images in these chapters: water flowing from the temple and bringing life wherever it goes. The river grows deeper as it flows. It transforms the waters of the sea. Fish become abundant. Trees grow along its banks. Their fruit does not fail, and their leaves bring healing. The source of this life-giving river is the sanctuary. Once again, the message is unmistakable: Life flows from the presence of God. As moms, it is easy to spend our days pouring ourselves out for everyone else. But we cannot manufacture spiritual life for our families. We need the life that comes from God. Our children don't ultimately need a perfect mother. They need a mother who knows where the source of life is. You Don't Have to Understand Everything to Trust GodThe book of Ezekiel ends with details that theologians have debated for centuries. And that's okay. We can study carefully. We can ask questions. We can seek wisdom. We can learn from faithful teachers. But ultimately, our confidence isn't in our ability to explain every prophetic detail. Our confidence is in the God who gave the prophecy. We can trust Him when we understand. We can trust Him when we're confused. We can trust Him when His plans are easy to see. And we can trust Him when we're still waiting. That is faithfulness. The Final Message of EzekielEzekiel began with a vision of God's glory. Then came judgment because of God's people's rebellion and sin. But judgment was not the end. God promised restoration, a new covenant, a new heart, His Spirit, His presence, and ultimately a future in which He would dwell with His people. And the book closes with a name that captures it all: Yahweh Shammah — The Lord Is There. What an appropriate way to finish Ezekiel. And what a beautiful reminder for every Christian mom: God is there. He is there in the ordinary work of motherhood. He is there when obedience is difficult. He is there when our children are struggling. He is there when we don't know what to do next. He is there when we understand His plan—and when we don't. And one day, His people will dwell with Him forever. Scripture MentionedEzekiel 40–48Ezekiel 43:1–7Ezekiel 43:10–12Ezekiel 45Ezekiel 46Ezekiel 47:1–12Ezekiel 48:35Genesis 2ExodusZechariah 14Revelation A Prayer for Christian MomsHeavenly Father, we praise You that You are a God with a good plan. As moms, we make decision after decision and handle detail after detail. Thank You for the clarity of Your Word and for showing us what matters most. Lead us forward with peace. Help us to know what You are calling us to do and to obey You fully, as Ezekiel did. When we are tired, discouraged, or facing something difficult, strengthen our hearts to move forward in diligence and faithfulness. Teach us to trust You even when we don't understand every detail of Your plans. Help us to raise our children to know that You are holy, that Your Word is trustworthy, and that Your presence is better than anything this world can...
