📖 Scripture

1 Some of the elders of Israel came to me and sat down in front of me.
2 Then the word of the Lord came to me:
3 “Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces. Should I let them inquire of me at all?
4 Therefore speak to them and tell them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: When any of the Israelites set up idols in their hearts and put a wicked stumbling block before their faces and then go to a prophet, I the Lord will answer them myself in keeping with their great idolatry.
5 I will do this to recapture the hearts of the people of Israel, who have all deserted me for their idols.’
6 “Therefore say to the people of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Repent! Turn from your idols and renounce all your detestable practices!’
7 “‘When any of the Israelites or any foreigner residing in Israel separate themselves from me and set up idols in their hearts and put a wicked stumbling block before their faces and then go to a prophet to inquire of me, I the Lord will answer them myself.
8 I will set my face against them and make them an example and a byword. I will remove them from my people. Then you will know that I am the Lord.
9 “‘And if the prophet is enticed to utter a prophecy, I the Lord have enticed that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand against him and destroy him from among my people Israel.
10 They will bear their guilt—the prophet will be as guilty as the one who consults him.
11 Then the people of Israel will no longer stray from me, nor will they defile themselves anymore with all their sins. They will be my people, and I will be their God, declares the Sovereign Lord.’”

📌 Scripture Summary

Some of the elders come to Ezekiel, and the Lord declares that those who set up idols in their hearts and consult with a prophet will face His judgment in keeping with their idolatry. The Lord warns that such idolaters and the prophet who is enticed to utter a prophecy will be destroyed, so that Israel will no longer stray from the Lord.

🧠 Memory Verse

“Therefore say to the people of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Repent! Turn from your idols and renounce all your detestable practices!’” – Ezekiel 14:6

💬 Reflection

Idols in Our Hearts (14:1–5)

Some of the elders visit Ezekiel, hoping to hear a word from the Lord. However, God knows that these men have set up idols in their hearts. These idols are wicked stumbling blocks that affect their relationship with Him. When we allow idols to rule our hearts, these stumbling blocks can make it difficult to hear God clearly in our prayers. This does not mean that we should be discouraged from approaching God. When we humbly repent, acknowledging our sins and idolatry, and turn our hearts back to Him, our loving Father offers us the grace of forgiveness. And we will begin to have more clarity in our prayers as we are renewed and restored in our relationship with Him.

Pause and think about any idols you have set up in your heart. Confess them and repent, asking God to renew and restore your relationship with Him.

Learning Not to Stray (14:6–11)

Although the Israelites have strayed from God and set up idols in their hearts, they think that they can continue to go to a prophet for guidance and assurance. But God declares that the Israelites and any prophet who offers a false prophecy will bear the consequences of their sins. We cannot continue to do things that we know are wrong and expect to maintain our relationship with God. Rather than struggling with sin on our own or trying to hide it, God wants us to come to Him, confess our sins, and allow Him to help us overcome our sins through the strength He provides. When we finally learn not to stray from Him, we demonstrate that we are His people and that He is our God.

When have you strayed from God, thinking that it would not affect your relationship with Him? Consider how your words and actions demonstrate that You are a part of His people and that He is Your God.

🌟 Today’s Inspiration

“Praying and sinning will never live together in the same heart. Prayer will consume sin, or sin will choke prayer.” – J. C. Ryle

🙏 Prayer

Father, thank you for the grace to come to You and receive Your forgiveness. I confess that I am sometimes tempted to set up idols in my heart. By Your strength, help me not to stray from You. In Your Son’s name I pray, amen.

📝 Essay

A Sense of Entitlement

As I read God’s warning to His people through the prophet Ezekiel, I realize just how easy it can be to feel entitled when we go to God. We can deceive ourselves into thinking that God is somehow obligated to answer our prayers in the way that we want. Instead of truly seeking the Lord, we end up seeking Him for ourselves. When the elders came to Ezekiel, they were following idols for selfish reasons. They were treating God just like another one of their idols. They were trying to use Him rather than obey Him. They wanted God to give them what they wanted, but they did not want to live as He wanted.

God is not a mute golden statue that bends to the desires of His people. He is not a magical genie who grants wishes. Approaching Him demands humility that acknowledges that He is the all-powerful and holy Lord. We are to come to God with clean hands and pure hearts. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, we are cleansed by His blood and receive His forgiveness through His perfect holiness. When we approach God in prayer, we must recognize His holiness and confess our own sins. Then, we can come to God with the confidence we have received through Christ. We will not treat Him with a sense of entitlement but acknowledge His greatness and glory as we offer our prayers with pure and humble hearts that are completely devoted to Him.

Written by Kris Anderson