Read Ezekiel 6:9
When I was a child, I would request that one special toy for Christmas or my birthday. When I was ten years old, I wanted Optimus Prime, the leader of the good Transformers robots. I thought if I had this, my life would be worthwhile. When I received it, it only took thirty minutes of rough play for Optimus’ arm to be broken off. What I thought would bring me joy was just a piece of poorly manufactured junk.
In Ezekiel 6:9, God reveals the grief He has over His people, Israel. Almost from its inception, the people of God had their eyes straining, necks craning, to find a worthless idol to replace God. Israel was called to experience God’s love and kindness, enjoy His favor and protection, and reflect His holiness in testimony to the other nations around them.
Instead, they exchanged it for false gods. Their embrace of idols and rejection of God did not fill their desires. Instead, the kingdom eventually descended into lawlessness, oppression, and anarchy. The idols they exchanged to replace God were unable to save when Babylon came in, carrying them to captivity.
God’s tears over Israel’s apostasy are not the insecure resentment of a jilted lover. He knew that He was the best for them. They would find their ultimate joy in Him, and they rejected His offer.
Does God feel the same grief when we search for satisfaction in something other than Him? As C.S. Lewis writes, “It would seem that our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”
Lord Jesus, please forgive me when I replace You with something else, even a good thing, in my life. May you be on the throne. May I find my rest in You. May I accept and cherish all the good that You are.
For Reflection:
- Repent to God by naming ways you have settled for cheap imitations of the blessings He wants to give you.
By Kevin Kelly
