Hi all. Just a quick post – no pictures yet – tomorrow I’ll get back in form – having Blissdom plague and all. But studying and sharing – that makes me happy. Thanks for telling me I could take a day – but this makes me smile – even though the topic is heavy.
If you missed parts 1, 2, and 3 they are here, here, and here)
So yesterday came that passage (EZE 14:1-13 here) that seems really out of place in our Bible.
It does, doesn’t it?
That God would say to people coming to him (at the time, through a prophet) – that he would hear their questions and mislead them?
Wow. I thought the same thing.
So here I start digging.
The prophet Ezekiel, lived among the Exiles of Israel in Babylon. He wrote big stuff like the wheel within a wheel vision of God, and Messiah prophecies, and this, the second confirmation that God does sometimes mislead his children.
The conditions leading up to the misleading of Ahab (parts 1-4) are a lot like the conditions that bring about the “misleading” in this passage.
This is what I think the Bible teaches, about when we (I), might be vulnerable to a “God” misleading.
The conditions in Ezekiel 14 are two fold:
1. Being close enough to God to still seek an answer from him, while at the same time being “estranged”, indifferent, alienated, maybe even hostile. (like Ahab)
2. Not only sinning, like all of us do, but dwelling upon my sinful actions – planning future sins and fondly remembering past ones. Instead of living from righteous act, to righteous act, while striving for righteousness – this condition is living from sin, to sin, while seeking sin.
The story behind these verses?
The culprits in these verses are some leaders of the Exiles in Babylon, who themselves had strayed from God. They come to Ezekiel to seek God’s council. (right!?)
How do I know they’re culprits guilty of straying?
I’m told in verses 1-3:
1 Some of the elders of Israel came to me and sat down in front of me. 2 Then the word of the LORD came to me: 3 “Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces. Should I let them inquire of me at all?
The answer to this question is really shocking.
But that’s for tomorrow.
This was just a snippet to keep momentum going. I love writing for you guys.
Tomorrow there’s more on this – this strange stuff that seems so, so ,
not God,
but is!
God Bless
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
It’s odd, in a way, how learning about these ‘uncharacteristic’ God things add dimensions to Him that are sort of freeing…and endearing…that is, learning that God acts in ways that can seem unGodly gives me hope that He IS more than just the narrow, small, wearying and frightfully unloving god that is portrayed by some. I am not sure this makes much sense. I think what I mean is that it is comforting-albeit via an unexpected channel-to see that God operates beyond the confines of any man-made set of definitions and descriptions…which means there could be more Good surprises, too!
Oh A . . .what you said made really good sense! Yes! If I didn’t know this aspect of God, how wonderful thinking of all the others I have yet to learn.
Craig . . .what God says in Ezekiel, about should I let them inquire of me at all? I felt this at times when I am longing to hear His voice. But, if I hear His voice and then don’t do what He says . . .why should He keep telling me things?( He is gracious and He does, giving me more chances to listen and obey! So thankful!)
God bless you and rid you of the plague!
He’s big. A.
Made the universe with a whisper big.
If any of us thinks – that any one of us could – figure him all the way out – then that would mean he isn’t so big I guess. And that wouldn’t be big enough for me.
I’m glad I keep surprising you.
God Bless
OK, what is it with you two!
A and Deb…
You invariably comment within minutes of each other! It’s the funniest thing.
And such a good point deb – you are so much more the theologian than you think.
And let me just say this – blissdom plague is blechy.
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