Not only were the elders in the exile harboring an idolatrous heart, but the people were also equally guilty of the same propensity. God implied so in Ezekiel 14:6 even as he called them to repentance. Both they, the elders as well as the people, were equally contaminated with the sin as those who were left behind in Jerusalem. So, He urged them saying, “Repent and turn away from your idols and turn your faces away from all your abominations.”
God’s desire was to see everyone cleansed
from their idolatry. Everyone from the native-born Israelites to the proselytes
who separated themselves from their own nationalities and were simulated into the Jewish
community. The outward appearance of orthodoxy never deceived God who could see
the inner thoughts and intents of the hearts. These people should not expect a word of
guidance from the Lord through the
prophet when they had so obviously put the abominable stumbling block before
them and God. Instead, God Himself would have His way of dealing with them. He would
make them a public example to the people, to show them of what it would like to
harbor a divided heart and allegiance. He would ensure that they would be ostracized from
His people.
In verses 9-11, God sent a warning
to any prophet who would entertain these wayward people. This implied that
among the exile there were also other prophets. The temptation of the people
was then to go shopping for one who would provide them guidance. God guaranteed
that in place of truth, they would receive deceiving words. Besides, He warned such
prophets, who entertained these wicked inquirers that they themselves would receive
the same treatment as their inquirers.
Verse 11 provides us an insight
into the heart of God. All He wanted was to have a faithful people, cleansed from
their sins and transgression. All he
desired was for the house of Israel to no longer stray
from Him and no longer defile themselves with all their transgressions. When
that happened, God assured them that “…they will be My people, and I shall
be their God.” In other words, they shall be truly His covenant people.
Through
Christ, God’s desire is for us to have what He had asserted in verse 11 – a truly
pure relationship. If like them, we are harboring “idols” that have become strongholds
and stumbling blocks in our lives, He wants them to be broken. His desire is for
us to have a pure and cleansed relationship with Him. He wants us to be able to
hear from Him and have His clear guidance in life.
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