And so the end of the story, the second witness of the two that show God will sometimes mislead us – to bring us home.
God, often direct, more usually works in ways that are mystery.
If you missed parts 1-6, they are crucial to this last piece. They begin here.
Ezekeil 14 continues (vv 9-10) …
” ‘And if the prophet is enticed to utter a prophecy, I the LORD have enticed that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand against him and destroy him from among my people Israel. They will bear their guilt—the prophet will be as guilty as the one who consults him.”
So here’s the sitch.
An undeserving person comes seeking an answer (probably the one they want to hear) from a random prophet. If the prophet is then “enticed” to give a message, God will punish both him and the person seeking the answer.
Why would God do that?
From the start, the role of prophet was crucial to Israel. They were the voice of God for a people his own. But the requirements were steep: never a missed prophecy, short term, easily provable prophecies, to lend credence to the ones speaking to future generations. Their role was so important that if one was proven to be false, the consequences were dire:
- If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer who promises you a sign or wonder, urging you to follow other gods, whom you have not known, and to serve them: even though the sign or wonder he has foretold you comes to pass, pay no attention to the words of that prophet or that dreamer; for the LORD, your God, is testing you to learn whether you really love him with all your heart and with all your soul. The LORD, your God, shall you follow, and him shall you fear; his commandment shall you observe, and his voice shall you heed, serving him and holding fast to him alone. But that prophet or that dreamer shall be put to death, because, in order to lead you astray from the way which the LORD, your God, has directed you to take, he has preached apostasy from the LORD, your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and ransomed you from that place of slavery. Thus shall you purge the evil from your midst. (DT 13:2-6)
So in this case, if a prophet gives an answer, the answer will be wrong. The prophet will be showing true colors. The prophet would know the rules and be willfully disregarding them.
A wrong answer from a prophet could only come from himself, or a source other than God, or in this case, directly. from. God.
God takes responsibility for beguiling or deceiving the prophet, who will then give the “right” message (which is wrong).
Or is it the “wrong” message (which is right)?
The bottom line is that the message received is a misleading one – and it is God who is responsible for it. God punishes the person or nation by “beguiling” false prophets, leading them, and their half-hearted audiences, to their doom, or maybe their salvation.
I know! Who knew this was in our Bibles?
So does God sometimes mislead his children? I can’t say no.
Remember, there is a third witness to this fact.
The story of Ahab, this story in Ezekiel, and oh so sadly, the story of my life.
Without any knowledge of how God might do this I once (long ago) met all the conditions:
• A believer – but estranged
• Prideful
• Building bad alliances (worldy ones)
• A divided heart
• Seeking answers I wanted to hear
• Keeping the occasion of my sin before me
I was misled – but with no one but myself to blame. I learned the lessons in the most difficult way.
• Stay close to the only Source
• Humility – darn it!
• Fellowship, building relationships with God’s people
• Don’t straddle spiritual fences
• Bend my will to God’s – not try to do the opposite
• Confess sin, resist sin, do not dwell on sin
I don’t want any of you to have to learn the way I did.
I was demolished by my decisions.
I don’t want any of you guys to be utterly crushed.
And this is why I’ve shared all of this.
Sometimes our lives are shining examples of how things should be.
Sometimes a history riddled with failure is a sharp reminder not to dangle our toes over the edge of the cliff.
Whew!
This was heavy. No?
But useful?
Please have at my comment section 
God Bless
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Thank you for warning us, Craig, and for showing us so clearly what each way looks like. May we always choose the right path. It hurts terribly to have to learn some of this the hard way, doesn’t it? I know.
Which reminds me…will you be free, sometime, to share with us how Froofy saved your life? (#9-in your ‘About Me’ section). If the telling of it is appropriate for this place, I would love to hear the story. If not, it just warms my heart to know that Froofy was used in a wonderful way in your life.
A. You are right – it is so much easier to just learn the lessons the good way – not the bad. And Froofy? I loved him. He did save my life – him and God. I’ll work on a Froofy post – probably over on Love – that would be where it belongs – A Froofy tribute – yes – I’ll put that in the works.
I am reading with my eyes, of course, but also with my heart overflowing with caring.
Grandma J.
Have I told you recently how much it means to me that you get to read my words. I know you would rather see these published in a book somewhere. But we both know that’s not all that easy. Still they are out there – and people read – yay. God Bless.
I don’t like that you had to go through this, but the alternative isn’t acceptable either, is it? So, thanking Him for you, for using you to teach us. May our hearts and minds be pliable and teachable. Thank you for making yourself available to Him and us!
I hated it too Deb. But the more I look at it the more it’s kind of my Christian calling card – the one who was given much – required much – and who fell short for too long – and is now running the race as he should have been all along. Thank you deb.
{ 1 trackback }