Ezekiel 16:23-29 - Be careful not to be enslaved by sin

Expected to be faithful to the Lord whom she was married to, Judah’ became adulterous. Spiritual speaking, her harlotry was countless. Her wickedness was too extensive and egregious. God’s indictment pronounced over her in Ezekiel 16:23 was put in parenthesis. This shows how insufferable their harlotry had become. Indiscriminately, she multiplied shrines and built high places all over every square in Jerusalem to facilitate their spiritual adultery.  

So out of control was Israel that she would offer herself to every passerby. For every suitor that came calling she would freely offer herself. So, in verses 25-29, God recounts the number of countries she played that harlot with. First Egypt, then Assyria, and then Babylon. Even from the harlotry with the Egyptians, her conduct had already angered God that He declared in verse 27 saying, “Behold now, I have stretched out My hand against you and diminished your rations. And I delivered you up to the desire of those who hate you….” Her conduct was so horrendous and beyond description that even the godless Philistines were appalled and taken aback. But not enough with her harlotry with Egypt, her insatiable lust led her to prostitute herself to Assyria and then to Babylon. Even then she could not be satisfied and kept lusting for more.

What led to Judah’s unfaithfulness could be traced to her lack of trust in God. Without trust at the root, unbelief soon engendered. Unbelief then emboldened her to disobey God. So, they went lusting after what God had strictly forbidden. Here God was dealing with their lust, their insatiable lust. Lust by any label is still lust. Some label lust as addiction while others call it craving. But whatever label we call it, it is still one of the hardest fights in life.

Our old nature, if no harness, can reign inside us and make us its slave to obey its lust. Never forget that in Christ, we are God’s new creation. We don’t need to be controlled by our old nature. The surest meant to control a of control life is to live a Spirit-directed and guided life.  Be sure also to know God’s Word and obey it. Jesus promises that if we continue in His Word, we shall know the truth and the truth will set us free.