The Nations Shall Know That I Am the Lord
By Bethanie Eaton
“ And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the Lord,” says the Lord God, “when I am hallowed in you before their eyes.”
Ezekiel was a prophet-priest active in the turbulent years leading up to and following Judah’s exile to Babylon. Though taken captive as a young man, God called him to prophesy both against His own rebellious people and for their restoration. Ezekiel wasn’t writing from a quiet life of ministry—he was in exile, far from home, surrounded by a foreign culture, and grappling with the consequences of a people who had forgotten God’s holiness. He was both priest and prophet, and his calling came with some wild visuals: lying on his side for months, shaving his head with a sword, seeing visions of wheels full of eyes.
In the middle of all this, God speaks something so clear and so full of hope—something that still speaks powerfully to us today: “I will sanctify My great name… and the nations shall know that I am the Lord when I am hallowed in you.”
A Global Vision of God’s Holiness
One of the most repeated phrases in the book of Ezekiel is: “Then they will know that I am the Lord.” More than sixty times, God speaks this refrain through the prophet—sometimes in judgment, sometimes in mercy—but always with one purpose: to reveal Himself.
And here in Ezekiel 36:23, that purpose is tied directly to His holiness. God declares that He will sanctify His great name, the name that has been dishonoured, and the result will be that “the nations shall know that I am the Lord.”
This is the heartbeat of God in Ezekiel. Not just that His people would return to Him, but that all peoples, all nations, would come to know who He truly is. He intends for it to be made known to the ends of the earth.
When God speaks of His “great name,” He’s speaking about His Reputation and character as holy, righteous, just, and merciful. Israel, through disobedience and idolatry, had misrepresented Him among the nations. They had profaned His name, not just among themselves, but in full view of the other nations around them.
However, God does not leave His name in dishonour. In His grace, God promises to restore His reputation—not by discarding His people, but by transforming them. At the end of this verse we see this the turning point: when God is hallowed by His people, the nations will see and know Him.
This is about more than the salvation and restoration of Israel’s, it’s about God’s glory being revealed to the world.
The nations will know
From Genesis to Revelation, God's purpose has always included the nations. His covenant with Abraham came with this promise: “Through you, all nations of the earth will be blessed.” (Genesis 12:3) That same thread runs through the Psalms, the prophets, the Gospels, and into the final vision of Revelation where every tribe and tongue worships before His throne.
Ezekiel 36 shows us that God's holiness is missional. It’s not a distant trait we admire; it’s an active reality that is meant to be seen and known by every people group on earth.
The verse says, “when I am hallowed in you before their eyes.” In other words, God makes Himself known through His people. This verse emphasises on God sanctifying His name. And even though Israel profaned his name, in his grace and mercy he invites them to be apart of making himself known.
When the holiness of God is formed in us, and reflected through us, the world catches a glimpse of what He is like. Our obedience, our worship, our set-apart living—these become vessels for His name to be honoured. God sanctifies us so that His name would be made holy before the nations.
He is fiercely committed to the sanctity of His name, and His ultimate aim is that “the nations shall know that I am the Lord.” We get to play a part—but it’s His holiness, His name, and His glory that take centre stage. May our hearts burn not just to be holy, but to see the holiness of God known and worshipped from Manchester to the Middle East, from our neighbourhoods to the nations.
Reflection
Father, You are holy. You are not like us. Your name is great, and too often we have lived as though it were small. But You are committed to making Your name known—not just to us, but to the nations. Sanctify Your name in us, so that Your holiness would be seen and known across the earth. Let our lives point to You—not to our efforts, but to Your glory.
Take a moment to reflect on these questions:
In what ways is my life “hallowing” God before the eyes of others?
Can I commit to praying for the nations to know Him?
Further reading: Habakkuk 2:14; Psalm 67:1-2; Matthew 6:9; Revelation 15:4
