Ezekiel 14 – 22

When reading Ezekiel, it’ shard not to get caught up in the wheels and beasts and faces found in the inspired visions he records. Speaking to the exiles in Babylon, his message pierces the hearts of those whose hope and faith was in the temple Solomon built. Jeremiah told them to settle in for the long haul in Babylon, but they would one day return. Ezekiel is telling them when they return, everything will be different. Since they had departed from the way of Yahweh, He had departed from the magnificent temple.

Then the glory of the LORD departed from the threshold of the temple….

EZEKIEL 10:18

Through Ezekiel, the heavenly Father tells His side of the tragic story of Israel. When she was born, no one tended her or rejoiced. Instead, Yahweh found her cast out to die. He cherished her and nurtured her. In teaching her the ways of truth, she came to know morality, justice and faithfulness. She was a beautiful woman, and the precious bride of the LORD.

Filled with the knowledge of right living and adorned with extravagant gold and jewels, she turned to harlotry. She sold herself cheaply to whoever came her way. She even took her children and sacrificed them to other gods. She forgot where Yahweh found her and went rushing back to destruction.

Given every advantage by the true and living God, she gave herself freely to other gods, becoming an adulterous wife, receiving nothing in return except scorn. Her lovers abused her and the once beautiful woman was destroyed.

What should a husband do in such circumstances? Every man in Judah knew the answer instinctively. Every woman with Hebrew blood coursing through her veins knew precisely. The husband would walk away and leave her to her lovers. That is exactly what Yahweh did, as the glory of the LORD departed the temple.

A good man is patient, even in the face of the faithlessness of His wife. A merciful man desires for thing to return to the way they once were. A loving man wants no more than the bride he knew on their wedding day when everything was new and right. How much more is the patient, merciful and loving God of mankind?

Yet you say, ‘Why should not the son suffer for the iniquity of the father?‘ When the son has done what is just and right, and has been careful to observe all my statutes, he shall surely live. The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself. “But if a wicked person turns away from all his sins that he has committed and keeps all my statutes and does what is just and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. None of the transgressions that he has committed shall be remembered against him; for the righteousness that he has done he shall live. Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord GOD, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live? But when a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice and does the same abominations that the wicked person does, shall he live? None of the righteous deeds that he has done shall be remembered; for the treachery of which he is guilty and the sin he has committed, for them he shall die. “Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.‘ Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way not fair? Is it not your ways that are not fair? When a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice, he shall die for it; for the injustice that he has done he shall die. Again, when a wicked person turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he shall save his life. Because he considered and turned away from all the transgressions that he had committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die. Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ O house of Israel, are my ways not just? Is it not your ways that are not just? “Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord GOD; so turn, and live.”

Ezekiel 18:19-32

This is the eternal nature of Yahweh Elohim. The giver of life and free will patiently endures the false charges of idolatrous and faithless people who claim He is not fair and, in fact, unjust. Look closely at the love of God in His desire to forgive. In essence, He simply does not care what you have done in the past. There is nothing He will not forgive when you turn away from it and come back to Him. Sin offers death, but Yahweh offers life! Can the adulterous harlot return to the honeymoon as if nothing had ever happened? Let’s ask Paul…

I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ

2 Corinthians 11:2

Consider His nature.  Consider His ways.  Strive to love Him more!