Ezekiel 14

Ezekiel 14:3, 21-22 ESV

"Son of man, these men have taken their idols into their hearts, and set the stumbling block of their iniquity before their faces. Should I indeed let myself be consulted by them? "

For thus says the Lord God: How much more when I send upon Jerusalem my four disastrous acts of judgment, sword, famine, wild beasts, and pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast! But behold, some survivors will be left in it, sons and daughters who will be brought out; behold, when they come out to you, and you see their ways and their deeds, you will be consoled for the disaster that I have brought upon Jerusalem, for all that I have brought upon it.

This chapter is an expression of mercy in the midst of judgment. The men coming to inquire of the Lord have no right to approach him. They have no right to be heard by him nor to expect any answer from him. "They have taken their idols into their hearts." God has no obligation to respond to their inquiry, yet he will.

He goes on to explain that their sin is such that even the presence of Noah, Daniel and Job would not keep God's judgment from falling. They would be able to save no one but themselves. That is particularly significant when we remember that God promised Abraham that he would even spare Sodom and Gomorrah if there were only ten righteous people in there. Sodom was not a part of the covenant people of God and yet they would be spared by the presence of any ten righteous individuals. Here we have the covenant people of God and they are told that they would not be spared even by the presence of these three great men of God.

Noah's righteousness spared seven other people when God sent judgment against the world, but because of the sin of God's people his presence this time would save only himself.  Yet, here we find a most incredible expression of God's mercy. Though the presence of these great men would not protect anyone but themselves in the face of God's judgment, God will actually spare people out of mercy.

God's discipline is never simply an expression of anger, or a desire to destroy. It is so that we might actually recognise who he is. His discipline is for our good. God's discipline is an expression of his love. The fact that God would hear the prayers of those who do not deserve to be heard, the fact that God would spare those who do not deserve to be spared is an amazing expression of his mercy and grace.

Father thank you for dealing with me according to your grace and because of your Son rather than giving me what I deserve.

By His grace,
Rick Weinert