Ezekiel 14 Divided Loyalties
The elders have come to Ezekiel with divided loyalties. They want God’s input while still clinging fast to their idols. God is NOT pleased!
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money” (Matthew 6:24). ‘Money’ here means anything man makes into his god. It is the idols that the elders of Israel are still clinging to as well.
God DOES NOT share a man’s heart. Yes. We all are guilty at times of putting something on His throne in our lives, but it CANNOT remain there. If you truly love God, whatever it is that is trying to take His place MUST be pulled back down.
Those coming to Ezekiel today are not the least bit interested in pulling down their idols. They want to cling to both. They are ‘hedging their bets’. “If this one doesn’t get the job done, the other will.” God WON’T be one of two in His people’s hearts; then or now.
Let’s rejoin Ezekiel as he hammers this message home to the elders of the people. Holy Spirit, lead me where You want me to go today. Show me what You want me to take and apply to my life as well.
♥ ♦ ♥
Ezekiel has become a little more sought after since his trip to the marketplace. Those who trusted in ‘magic bands’ are wondering about their future. Those listening to false prophets are also seeking his advice. Ezekiel is still bound by the Lord. He cannot speak anything except what the Lord gives him to say. This is frustrating to many of those who come to him.
One of the ‘heart problems’ those in exile are facing is, wondering if God has abandoned them. They hear Ezekiel’s prophecies against Jerusalem. He says that God is going to judge them. But aren’t they the ones who have His favor? They are after all in His holy city. And if God judges them, what about the exiles?
“Is there any hope for us?” And, “If God won’t save us, where are we supposed to look for help?”
These are the thoughts and fears running through the exiles. They are not listening to Jeremiah’s messages, or Daniel’s words, or Ezekiel’s messages. Out of fear, they are holding tight to both their ‘options’.
Ezekiel is in his house one morning. He has just finished clearing away his breakfast dishes when a knock sounds on his door. He dries his hands and goes to open the door.
Before him stand a group of the elders of Israel. Ezekiel inclines his head in welcome and steps back so that they may enter. After they all pass through the door, Ezekiel shuts it and joins them in the room. He motions for everyone to sit.
God still has control of Ezekiel’s tongue. He does not speak a word unless it is given to him by God. Ezekiel waits and listens.
The spokesman for the group begins to speak. “We need you to inquire of the Lord on our behalf. Ask Him what is to become of us; the exiles. Are we going to die in this land? Does He even see us anymore?”
Ezekiel hears the heaviness in their questions. He gets up and walks to the window, giving the Lord time to speak His words to him for these men. God does not disappoint him.
“These men that have come to you, seeking MY help are STILL not trusting in me. They put more faith in their idols than they do Me. They cling to them with their whole hearts, ignoring the sin that is right before their eyes! The sin of having ANYTHING before ME. And they have the ‘nerve’ to come seeking answers from Me. I will give them an answer, but it won’t be one they like. Go back to them and I will give you the words to proclaim in their hearing.”
Ezekiel turns away from the window and takes his seat among the elders. He opens his mouth and the words of the Lord come tumbling out.
“This is what God says to the house of Israel; ‘Repent and turn away from your idols! Turn away from your sin of placing ANYTHINIG above Me. Any Israelite or anyone living in their midst who separates themselves from Me by clinging fast to their idols, then comes to a prophet asking him to intercede on their behalf will find ONE answer. I will set My face against such a man and cut him off from My people. He will become a cautionary tale of what NOT to do. And when I do this, those who see will KNOW that I am God.”
Heads fall around the room. They recognize that the Lord is speaking of them.
Ezekiel mouth and heart continue on with God’s words. “Any man who comes to a prophet and deceives him regarding his own heart, I am the one who allows this prophet to be deceived, as he is not MY prophet. I will make an example of both the man who is seeking and the prophet. The judgment of the one will also be the judgment of the other. They will both become a ‘byword’; a cautionary tale for those who would follow in their footsteps. For both will be no more. And you will KNOW that I am the Lord.”
The men all scramble to their feet and hurry from the presence of Ezekiel and God. Until their hearts are right, they will NOT return.
Ezekiel watches them as they retreat down the road in front of his home. He prays that they WILL return; after their hearts are cleaned of their idols. He knows that the Lord has not abandoned them. If only they could see that too, they would have no need for idols.
As Ezekiel stands, watching the elders, the Lord speaks to him regarding their greatest fear; that they are abandoned and Jerusalem is chosen by Him.
“Son of man; you know that when I stretch out My hand against a land, it is not without cause. If I cut off its food by sending famine, or its health by sending pestilence, or its safety by unsheathing the sword, or its security by sending wild beasts through it to kill man and beast, it is because the whole land has forsaken Me. Their sins are so great that even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were among them they wouldn’t be able to save anyone but themselves with their righteousness. I would still judge the land.”
“How much more will I do to Jerusalem; the city that is called by My name, but has abandoned me. When I send My four disastrous judgments against them; famine, pestilence, sword, and beasts to cut it off from man and beasts.”
Ezekiel thinks about the words the Lord has just shared with him. “Will ALL men die” he wonders. “If not even Noah, Daniel, of Job can save any, what hope do the people have. NONE will survive!” This thought grieves Ezekiel’s heart. Before he sinks into despair, the Lord speaks again.
“Some survivors will be left; sons and daughters. And they will be brought out and brought to this land. When you see them, they will be a witness as to why My judgment has been poured out. They will be examples of the sin that is rampant in Jerusalem. They will also be an example of My mercy. Though they deserve death for their ways, I have shown them mercy. How much more will I show mercy on those who are in this land who return to Me? ALL that I have done, I have done with just cause.”
Ezekiel goes back into his house and shuts his door. He falls to his knees and prays for God’s people; the exiles. He prays that they will see the truth. That their God has NOT abandoned them. That THEY are the ones who turned away. ALL He is requiring is that they throw away their idols and return to Him with their WHOLE hearts.
(to be continued)
What are we trying to hold onto and placing it on God’s throne? What are we putting our trust in? It’s not about abandoning all worldly possessions, but putting them in their proper place. You can have finances. But do NOT trust in your wealth as your security. It cannot save you. In times of great famine in Samaria, the wealthy had no more bread than the poor, for there was next to NOTHING to buy. What was available was considered unclean and certainly undesirable. “There was a great famine in Samaria, as they besieged it, until a donkey’s head was sold for eighty shekels of silver, and the fourth part of a kab of dove’s dung for five shekels of silver” (2 Kings 6:25).
Your home can be destroyed in an instant. Your car can be taken from you in a moment. ALL that you have and trust in is dust and decay. The ONLY TRUE SALVATION comes from the Lord. Even the sun will one day pass away.
When Peter was out on the water with Jesus, as long as he kept his fucus on Jesus, he walked on water too. When he turned to look at the storm is when he sank. For a moment, he forgot where his salvation came from. But Jesus didn’t. When Peter began to sink, Jesus reached out and brought him to safety when NOTHING ELSE could. Not even his friends in the boat could save him.
Our lives WILL have storms. We WILL have times when our earthly security is torn from our hands. If THAT is where we are putting our trust, we WILL sink. If our trust is in Jesus, we have eternal safety. “Though he slay me, I will hope in him” Job 13:15a). Job goes on to say that he will argue his case before the Lord. That is what got him in trouble; NOT his trust in the Lord.
Father God, forgive me for EVERY time I have tried to put something or someone else on Your throne in my heart. YOU ALONE are my salvation. I put my trust in You, no matter what happens.
This world is a MESS Father God! I don’t know what is coming next. All I can say is; “PRAISE YOU that YOU know and are in control!” And this is where I have to leave it too. I trust You for the roof over my head, the food on my table, and the family around me. And even if You remove ALL of these, I WILL STILL TRUST YOU!
