25th.: Idols in the Heart, Part 2
Yesterday, we saw the elders of those who had been 'kidnapped' and
taken to a foreign country come to Ezekiel a second time with questions for God.
“… certain of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the Lord, and sat before me.” (Eze. 20:1b).
Again, the specific inquiry was not recorded.
Yet, God gave a similar answer,
“Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them,
‘Thus says the Lord: Are you come to inquire of me?
As I live, says the Lord God, I will not be inquired of by you.” (Eze. 20:3).
Have you ever wished you didn't have to answer some people?
It is like, God had the same feeling.
In Eze. 14:5-28, God had reminded these elders of the history of Israel.
Specifically, how God had brought them out of Egypt, even though they kept rebelling against Him.
God now declared that he would remove these rebels from within Israel, and bring Israel to a wilderness, and to His holy mountain,
and they shall offer offerings, and God will hear them, and they shall realize how much they have offended God, and they shall know that God is the Lord (Eze. 20:34-44).
Ezekiel recorded the people’s final comments to this dissertation,
“Ah, Lord God, they say of me, ‘Does he not speak parables?’” (Eze. 20:49).
In other words, these elders had no real interest in God’s thoughts.
In contrast, when we inquire of the Lord, let us do it in sincerity.
“… this people draw near me with the mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their heart from me.” (Isa. 29:13)