In today’s reading, we see the utter lack of respect Israel’s leaders have for God. “Son of man, tell the leaders of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: How dare you come to ask me for a message? As surely as I live, says the Sovereign LORD, I will tell you nothing!’ (Ezekiel 20:3, NLT) Wow! God is absolutely not going to tell them anything! The shamelessness of Israel to think that they can wallow in their sin, their idolatry, their injustice, their utter blasphemy of God and His holiness, and then think that they can tap God for an answer and look into the future! Talk about a lack of spiritual self-awareness!
Why should God answer them? In Ezekiel 20:8, God says they rebelled against Him and would not listen. In Ezekiel 20:13, they rebelled and refused to obey His decrees. In Ezekiel 20:21, He says that their children, too, rebelled. Each time, God spared them from his wrath, desiring that they should repent, but they wouldn’t and didn’t. So, why should God listen to them now and give them an answer when their hearts are not different? God says, “I will tell you nothing.”
What a reminder of the mercy and patience of God, yet that God will not be mocked by the unrepentant. What a reminder to call upon the Lord while He may be found. Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. (Isaiah 55:6–7, KJV)
Thank you for joining me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from Ezekiel 20-21.