Ezekiel
21 reminds me of garage sale shopping with my daughter one morning.
The night before, we found a site listing all of the sales, complete
with the dates and addresses. That helped us plan our strategy and
find the ones closest to us. It’s interesting to see that early
Saturday morning those yard sale signs are everywhere. It is really
easy to be distracted or lost while following handwritten paper
signs. Paper signs are not always reliable. It was great that we
made a list ahead of time. In life there are all kinds of signs that
direct us along the way. Some are very clear and others are easy to
miss. The very best signs confirm your route. In today’s chapter,
the people of God had made a choice to turn from God. They got lost.
They had rejected His plan and His promise in order to follow paper
signs. Then God said, “I am
against you. I will draw my sword from its sheath and cut off from
you both the righteous and the wicked“.
Ezekiel is instructed to “Groan
before them with
broken heart and bitter grief“.
What would make God react so fiercely? Don’t we have free will?
Yes, but a wrong-way driver on the freeway endangers others too. God
will stop their road trip before innocent families were killed, but
it won’t be a gentle detour, “Every
heart will melt with fear and every hand go limp; every spirit will
become faint and every leg will be wet with urine“.
If you are out joy riding, don’t be surprised if you miss some
warning signs.
Next
God promised “The sword is
appointed… it is sharpened and polished, made ready for the hand of
the slayer… it
is against
all the princes of Israel.”
The law holds the driver responsible for violations, but all of the
passengers are at risk if they get into the car with an unsafe
driver. To be certain, “Testing
will surely come“. Do you
know who’s driving?
The
chapter closes with Ezekiel instructed to “mark
out two roads for the sword of the king of Babylon to take“.
He adds, “Make a signpost
where the road branches off… For the king of Babylon will stop at
the fork in the road… to seek an omen“.
Notice, not only does God use the king of Babylon as His sword of
judgment, but God also directs the king by adding signposts pointing
toward Israel. God used Babylon to “remind
them of their guilt and take them captive“.
The chapter closes with Israel’s driving privileges revoked, “Take
off the turban, remove the crown“.
But there is also a promise for renewal, “The
crown will not be restored until He to whom it rightfully belongs
shall come; to Him I will give it“.
Messiah would come to lead the people. The One who created the
signs knows the way. And with Him also comes peace, “Let
the sword return to its sheath“.
Are you are tired of following paper signs? Jesus said, “Do
not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.
I
am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and
ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades”
(Revelations 1:18). Maybe it is time to let someone else drive?