Wordlisteners May 23, 2010 Ezekiel 23 and 24

There was three for Wordlisteners, but the discussion went very well.

Ezekiel 23

Now for a story comparing the actions of Judah (Jerusalem) and Israel (Samaria) as if they were sisters and humans rather than nations. God is truly and remarkably at many levels, He treats us all individually but also collectively as nations we possess somewhat human characteristics. Israel and Judah let Egypt do what they wanted by giving themselves to Egypt.

Samaria (Israel) – Assyrians became their focus not God. Assyrians invaded and became the focus rather than God. She the nation took up their idols. They seemingly attributed the Assyrian power to their idols rather than that God allowed it.

What idols do we attribute success to? College education, fitness, certain car, certain job, certain vacation. People become very passionate about their idols and often lose focus as to what is important. Idols also feed our self centeredness we think we (note the reference to self) will have a better life if we (again) have that thing. We should be pursuing education, careers in an effort not to be a burden on others, rather than what we get out of it. The only happiness in life is in a relationship with God and serving Him. Otherwise at some point there will be regret, a feeling an opportunity was missed.

God gave Samaria what they wanted, more of the Assyrians, which they focused on rather than the true God and it destroyed their country. Caused children to be murdered. Is it fair that God lets children die? Seemingly because of the actions of others. This is a hard thing to understand, but God is about justice and righteousness, and HE ALONE can make things like the death of a child fair. We cannot, and we feel powerless often getting angry, but it shows us our position- which is that we are not God. The Samarians seemingly wanted less of God so He gave them what they wanted, and look where it led. Another example in the Bible that God knows what is best for us and we really don't.

Judah watched the actions of Samaria, and didn't learn from them. We ask how this is possible, and yet how many different ways have we tried the same thing, getting an undesirable result, and yet insist this time it will be different. We are “special” we think- it will work for us but not for them- pride I'm afraid is elevating us falsely. How many of us made the same decisions (which turned out badly) that an older sibling did? How many of our kids walk down the same path that we tried all those years ago with results we aren't content with? In all this God is our father, watching yet another child make the same mistakes an older sibling did, wondering why they didn't learn, wondering how they can be so blind to reality.

Judah surpassed Samaria in turning away from God, she turned away from God with the Assyrians and the Babylonians and still wasn't satisfied. Apart from a relationship with God there is no satisfaction. Having a relationship with God (committing to it) and then turning away for relationship with someone/something else is adultery.

God wants relationship but its not demanded, there would be no relationship if He made us, He only then makes the offer. Judah rejected Him so He turned away. When God turns away from you in your life watch out. The good things are from God, if He turns, the good things go with Him.

Judah seemingly got what she wanted (God out of the picture), and it went to her head, she now thought she was God and exercised what she thought was now her privilege to do anything. When we do what we want apart from God, people will get hurt, and there doesn't seem to be an exception in the Bible. Those that Judah hurt possibly by trying to break off the relationship, came back to hurt Judah. Isn't that our natural response when we are hurt, it is to strike back (its not of God, but of the flesh). Since the countries Judah turned from God for were not Godly themselves they acted in the flesh- hurting Judah if Judah hurt them. If we live in a “Me” or “I” frame of mind very long we will get hurt by the actions of others.

God had almost reached the point of abandoning Judah, because of her wanting her way. She did what Samaria had tried and gotten the same result. Now she had to drink the consequences. Consequences from turning from God, and denying Him, and focusing on self. Ezekiel was to point out the actions of Judah and Samaria. Show them their obscenities. A turning from God, a not putting God first – considering Him Holy. They sought answers from men and not God.

When we seek answers from men we often polish our side of the information. Ever heard of a couple in a dispute, and only hearing one side? You just can't believe the other person can be “that way”. Consider you are seeing the polish, we all have our faults and shortcomings, we all have weaknesses we sometimes act upon. Going to God? We can't hide anything from Him, we can't polish the information and spin it in our favor, He knows us. He might show us our contribution to the issue and its scary to consider “innocent us” might have some responsibility. We might have to change and admit we're not better than the other person(s) involved. Are we better than others? Does God think so? If we have responsibility in the issue shouldn't we want to change and do our part to fix it? Does God think so?

Ezekiel 24

The parable of the boiling pot. Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem, all the people (who might think they are special, different or better) are all in the pot together. A pot that will be boiled (adversity). Piece by piece removed without choice. Choices were made, God's plan and ways were not followed and therefore bad things happened, and God had become wearied by the people (His people). He wants the filthiness to be melted away, trials drive people to God.

We want our own way until there is trouble, and then we run to God. God wants us to avoid the unpleasantness, and yet we reject His offer. He would cleanse us if we will let Him. Now after wearying Him His wrath must be endured - if that is possible unless He relents. He will judge and will do so fairly- none of us want that.

Ezekiel's wife died as an example of something we often set our sights on rather than God. A prime one being a relationship in the world. The temple had become a similar focus of the people, rather than a focus on God. They felt God would protect His temple and thus them, and felt secure, but it was a false sense of security. God wants our focus to be on Him. Not the things of Him, not the things He has given us, but Him alone. Over time He brings us to this point of a focus on Him alone, when we are there we will know He is God.