DOES THE LORD HEAR YOU?

In today’s reading in Ezekiel (chapter 20), the Lord asks the people, “Do you come to inquire of me?” And then He states, “I will not be inquired of by you!” Why would the Lord make this assertion? It’s not the first time in Ezekiel He has said this. In 14:3 He says, “Should I be consulted by them at all?” It would seem that the Lord is refusing to allow certain people to inquire of Him or come before Him but why?!

In both chapter 14 and in chapter 20 and in both contexts, the Lord reveals His anger at His people who are guilty of idolatry. “…these men have set up their idols in their hearts…” (14:3), He says in chapter 14.  And then in chapter 20 He reminds them of what He had directed them as He brought them out of Egypt, “Cast away, each of you, the detestable things of his eyes, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt” (20:7). Idolatry. Always seems to be a problem for the people of God.

The New Testament also has dire warnings of the dangers of idolatry. Paul writes, “Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry” (Col. 3:5). And to the Ephesians Paul writes, “For know this with certainty, no…covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God” (Eph. 5:5). What/Who takes your eyes off the Lord? What/Who do you rely on to ‘get you through’ when you should be relying on Jesus? What of Jesus’ resources do you spend on unworthy idols? For those of us living in this culture and in this country, this question is worthy of serious consideration!