God uses imagery a lot. We were made in His image. He created us to perceive and learn visually. He communicated to the prophet Ezekiel in amazing images; He even had him perform God's message about further exile and the anxiety in Jerusalem like a play in front of the people while they were watching. As weird as this might have seemed to them, I'm sure they easily remembered the things Ezekiel communicated.
Similarly, the image that stuck with me most in today’s reading was that of the flimsy wall painted with whitewash. God is telling Ezekiel to prophecy against false prophets and their wrong actions: telling messages which never came from God and deceiving God's people away from the truth:
'Because they lead my people astray, saying, "Peace," where there is no peace, and because when a flimsy wall is built, they cover it with whitewash, therefore tell those who cover it with whitewash that it is going to fall.' Ezk 13:1-16
God is reminding us here the importance of the Truth, and it comes from Him. If we make up our own standards for life, even if we convince ourselves that God is or should be OK with them, these standards will fall - as God promised the false prophets. Like the paint, standards which are born out of our own spirit and are against God's words may seem 'cool' but they only cover the problem underneath - unstable life-support which will fall when violent storm comes. The truth of God on the other hand will withstand the trials of life. When I first believed in Christ, someone told me that this faith of mine will not last, that it’s just a new fascination, that is 'flimsy' and in a year or two I will forget it. Few years later God is still faithful and keeps His character true in my life. How do we recognize what comes from God in our lives and what doesn't? We all know the answer: knowing Hid words. We are privileged that we in our culture have bibles readily available. But every believer is also graced that God reveals his word and character through events in our lives. It is not a simple text. God is living and he confirms what he says. He gives us His spirit to believe.
In the same definite tone God warns the people of other certainties: that what he says will come true will most definitely do and that his timing is certain: 'None of my words will be delayed any longer; whatever I say will be fulfilled, declares the Sovereign Lord.' Ezk 12:26-28.
The final image today is of three righteous men: Noah, Job, and Daniel (it's not told who Daniel is here) who even with the sum of their faithfulness cannot save one nations. ’They alone will be saved.' Ezk 14:12-23. God tells of the certainty of inescapable consequences for wrongdoings. Further, did you notice how often He is called 'the Sovereign Lord' here? What He does, He has full authority to do.
What I really love about God though is that even if He disciplines us He always ends with offering of love and hope. In the last verses in today's reading we see that He will change the hearts of his children so dramatically that their new conduct will be so good - it will console Jerusalem for all that happened in the past. In hindsight, the ultimate consolation came though the sacrifice of Christ!
Praying that He will rule our hearts this week!
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