Ezekiel 14:4 “…Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols;”
Are you aware that it is common practice for big spenders and big businesses to contribute to both sides of a major issue? For instance, during a Presidential election, a person or company will give a donation to both the Democratic candidate and the Republican candidate. Talk about covering your bases! While this practice may be frustrating and seem inconsistent to most of us, savvy businessmen make sure that no matter the outcome of the election, they are covered. In other words, they are playing it safe by playing it broadly.
Sadly, we tend to do the same thing with God. We trust in God…and our money…and our plans…and our abilities. We figure that if one thing doesn’t take care of us, one of the other options is bound to work. I am not saying it is virtuous to be unprepared, bankrupt, and unwise, but Proverbs 21:31 reminds us that “the horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.” When God is all you have, you’ll find that He is all you need.
Leaders in Ezekiel’s day were trying to cover their bases, so to speak. They made idols in their hearts and with their hands which became a stumbling block between them and God. Instead of being holy to God, they had separated themselves from God (verse 7). When they didn’t get what they needed from a god of stone, they had the gall to come ask the God of Heaven for the direction they needed in their lives!
Before you ask God for something, make sure you have a heart that will hear and hands that will obey. How foolish it is to ask God for something with an idol in the way! Any wall I erect between my life and my God is an obstacle between my need and Heaven’s answer. Thankfully it doesn’t have to be that way! God can answer, wants to answer, and will answer if we ask with a clean heart and an open ear to obey.
Prayer Requests:
– Services tonight Fostoria, MI and Owensboro, KY