Ezekiel 19-20 God Reveals Himself Through Chastening

Ezekiel had given the captives God’s message about individual responsibility.  In these chapters, the religious leaders show up at his house wanting to “inquire of the Lord”.  “But the prophet knew that their hearts were not right with God and that they had no right to ask the Lord for instruction.  A willingness to submit and obey is the mark of the person who can seek God’s guidance and expect to receive it,” my commentary said.  We cannot really expect to receive God’s guidance today if we have no willingness to submit and obey.

Over and over in these chapters, we hear God saying that He chastened the Israelites “for the sake of My name”.  God’s name represented His character, and He couldn’t play favorites and allow the Israelites to get away with what other nations were doing in sin.  He had to be consistent.

They were sinning and it was obvious that even as God’s chosen people, they didn’t know the Lord, but God was going to reveal Himself to them through how He chastened them.  One way or another, they would know Him, and they would again learn to respect His name.

Father, please give me and give those I love a willingness to submit to You and obey You.  Only then can we seek Your guidance and even expect to receive it.  Help us not to kick against the goads, but to instead feel Your yoke upon us not as a burden, but as the hand of a loving Master who wants to keep us close, to love us, and to bless us.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford