“And the word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, these men have taken their idols into their hearts, and set the stumbling block of their iniquity before their faces.'” (2-3)
“Therefore, say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God: Repent and turn away from your idols, and turn away your faces from all your abominations.'” (6)
“And they shall bear their punishment—the punishment of the prophet and the punishment of the inquirer shall be alike— that the house of Israel may no more go astray from me, nor defile themselves anymore with all their transgressions, but that they may be my people and I may be their God, declares the Lord God.” (10-11)
I think some would be surprised to see these three steps in the Old Testament: 1) You are a sinner. 2) Repent. 3) Be my people. Here, God tells Ezekiel that some elders of Israel have taken their idols into their hearts. And, if the leaders are going astray, which way will they lead the nation? Away from the Lord.
What was the appropriate response to falling away from the Lord in those days? The same as today: Repentance! Today, we might look at Acts 3:19, for example – “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out.”
What was the outcome of repentance in Ezekiel’s day? Being the people of God. What is it today? “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12-13)
I’m thankful for a God who is consistent, even when I am not.
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