Today’s passage: Ezekiel 14
Helpful thoughts:
- In the hearts and minds of the elders of Israel, the impending doom from Babylon was the most important thing. In truth, their repentance and relationship with God was the most important thing.
- They desired a prophecy of what was to come, what they heard was a call to repentance.
- When we worship idols, they are a “stumbling block” and objects “before our face,” which means we are blinded and going to stumble.
- God declares that even with judgment after judgment, and even with men from the past and present (Noah, Daniel, and Job) speaking and living amongst the Jewish people, there will not be repentance. Except for those who are “brought out,” the remnant.
Questions to consider:
- Given God’s initial rebuke in this chapter, what is the most important aspect (Or most important relationship) of our lives? Would these elders have been happy with wealth, health, and peace in the land without God? Could we be happy today with wealth, health and peace without Jesus?
- How does blindness come from idolatry? How does it cause people to stumble? How do these following passages help us to learn and comprehend what it means to “become like what we worship?” (Psalm 115:4-8, 2 Corinthians 3:18)
- If we think about the lives of Noah, Daniel and Job, did their righteous choices result in massive amounts of conversions and repentance in the first place? Who alone has the power to give people a new heart, salvation? What is our responsibility and privilege? (2 Corinthians 5:17-20)