Bible in a Year Series - Day #242 - This post is part of a year-long series where we are reading chronologically through the Bible. Click here to learn more. You are most welcome to join along at any time.
Today's text from the ESV Study Bible: Ezekiel 13-15.
In today's narrative, we find God speaking strong words against the false prophets of Jerusalem who were contradicting the words of his true prophets.
These false prophet's messages brought confusion, defied Yahweh, and seemingly would relegate Yahweh to the blind, speechless, and mindless pieces of wood (idols) that so many worshiped.
Here God makes this clear to Ezekiel:
"The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, who have eyes to see, but see not, who have ears to hear, but hear not, for they are a rebellious house." (Ezekiel 12:1-2)
and...
"The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel, who are prophesying, and say to those who prophesy from their own hearts: ‘Hear the word of the Lord!’ 3 Thus says the Lord God, Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing! 4 Your prophets have been like jackals among ruins, O Israel. 5 You have not gone up into the breaches, or built up a wall for the house of Israel, that it might stand in battle in the day of the Lord. 6 They have seen false visions and lying divinations. They say, ‘Declares the Lord,’ when the Lord has not sent them, and yet they expect him to fulfill their word. 7 Have you not seen a false vision and uttered a lying divination, whenever you have said, ‘Declares the Lord,’ although I have not spoken?”
8 Therefore thus says the Lord God: “Because you have uttered falsehood and seen lying visions, therefore behold, I am against you, declares the Lord God. 9 My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and who give lying divinations. They shall not be in the council of my people, nor be enrolled in the register of the house of Israel, nor shall they enter the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord God." (Ezekiel 13:1-9)
False prophets have been here to confuse and destroy for millennia. We saw them in the days of Messiah, and we continue to see them today. In general, whether overtly or unknowingly, the false prophet's job is to confuse, or deny the person of God.
When Messiah was with his disciples, he asked them:
... “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:13-16)
Even today, there are those who falsely profess that Jesus is:
- a myth
- a spirit person
- a wisdom sage
- a prophet
God desires that we know that he is who he is: the great I AM, the Creator, Yahweh, the One, and the Only.
Sr. Pastor Jamie Rasmussen (Scottsdale Bible Church) spoke yesterday about this very topic in his message entitled: Who Do People Say That I Am? Who Do YOU Say That I Am?
I would encourage you to take some times to listen to this message so that you can learn to identify the wolves who hide themselves in sheep's clothing.
