Ezekiel 20 – continued disobedience in the face of forgiveness

I want to begin by pointing out to the few of you that follow my blog that although I have not written in a while, it does not mean that I have ceased reading as was the case before.  I either wanted to internalize what I read or wasn’t in a place fit for writing, but either way, I was still reading!  I encourage you to go back through chapters 16-19 to see what’s going on (especially 16 – that one got me good!)…

In Ezekiel 20, elders of Israel come to Ezekiel for a word from the Lord and get a history lesson.  God points out to them how time after time He would show them the way to live, they would turn the other way, and He would forgive.  God has had enough.  He tells Israel how to find forgiveness, but He also tells of coming judgment.  Israel is in trouble.

Ezekiel ends by saying, “Ah, Sovereign LORD! They are saying of me, `Isn't he just telling parables?'”  In other words, the Israelite elders aren’t buying what Ezekiel’s telling them!  Not only have they been foolish in not following God, but they are now being foolish in not believing His words!

I am SO guilty of this!  I’ll be in the depths of my sin and instead of listening to God to find a way out, I’ll continue ignoring Him and decide that I still know what’s best.  FOOLISH!  God, help me be wise!  Help me see my foolishness before it’s too late!

Ezekiel 6-7 – Punishment is here!

God has already made it clear that sin is no laughing matter with Him.  In this passage, He talks about Israel receiving their punishment for the things they have done (their punishment being death).  He talks in detail of how they will die and that they will be repaid for their conduct.  But…

The one thing that struck me in this passage was the repetition of the phrase, “Then you/they will know that I am the LORD.”  This phrase always followed a detailed description of the punishment that was going to befall the Israelites, and every time I read it, I thought to myself, “It took that much for them to figure out who God is?”

How much will it take for you to really understand God?  Do you know how serious He is about sin?  Do you know He wants your whole life?  Or are you just playing the game because you know how to act “Christian?”  I played the game for a long time.  I still catch myself playing the game every now and then.  This was a good reminder that I don’t want to need a wake up call like the one the Israelites got.

God, help me know You.  Help me be passionate for You.  Help me remember to pursue You with my whole heart so I may not fall away like the Israelites of Ezekiel’s day.  Amen.

Ezekiel 2-3 – God readies Ezekiel for his ministry

Yesterday I was anxious to hear what God was going to say to Ezekiel.  Today I got to read His words, and they were good.

God is preparing Ezekiel for the ministry he is about to do.  He tells Ezekiel a little bit about the people he’s going to be speaking to – they are Israelite exiles that are rebellious and hard-hearted to God.

God clearly knows this is going to be difficult for Ezekiel, so He gives Ezekiel what he’s going to need.  God makes him just as unyielding and hardened as they are, He encourages Ezekiel that his only job is to get God’s word out, He keeps Ezekiel from saying anything but God’s words, and He shows Ezekiel His glory again.

I was struck by two things – how well God prepares Ezekiel for ministry and how obedient Ezekiel is to God’s call on his life.  Whenever God asks Ezekiel to do something, Ezekiel follows, and he is always blessed by being obedient.

I’ve tried to be in tune to God’s call and direction for my life, but I have a hard time listening on a daily basis.  I know that I will be blessed if I’m obedient – I’ve already been blessed by being obedient and reading His word.  But often I’m not obedient in other areas.  I need to be.  I want to be blessed.  Don’t you?