Ezekiel 13: Bob's Going to Get Ya!
In Ezekiel chapter 13, we encounter a powerful message about false prophecy and divine judgment that remains startlingly relevant today. The chapter opens with God instructing Ezekiel to prophesy against the false prophets of Israel who were essentially making up their own prophecies rather than speaking God's truth. These self-proclaimed prophets were claiming "Thus says the Lord" without ever having received a message from Him – a dangerous deception that was leading God's people astray.
Throughout history, including our present day, people have always been drawn to messages that soothe rather than challenge, that promise peace when there is no peace. The false prophets of Ezekiel's time were doing exactly this – whitewashing flimsy walls, providing a temporary cosmetic fix to structural problems. They were telling the Israelites what they wanted to hear rather than the hard truth they needed to hear. God's response is unwavering: "I will break down your wall to its foundation, and when it falls, it will crush you. And then you will know that I am the Lord." This powerful imagery reminds us that falsehood cannot stand in the presence of truth, and temporary solutions will eventually crumble when tested by the storms of reality.
The chapter continues with God addressing the false prophetesses who were "ensnaring souls" with their magic charms and veils. These women were practicing divination for personal gain – "for a few handfuls of barley or a piece of bread" – while causing profound spiritual damage to the community. They were distorting spiritual reality, pronouncing life for the wicked who should have been warned about their sin, and discouraging the righteous who should have been encouraged. God's judgment against them is equally severe: "I will tear off the magic veils and save my people from your grasp." This reveals God's heart of restoration and protection for His people, even when they've been led astray.
What makes this passage so powerful is the recurring declaration: "Then you will know that I am the Lord." This phrase appears multiple times throughout Ezekiel, emphasizing that God's actions – whether in judgment or salvation – ultimately reveal His true nature and sovereignty. It's a reminder that even when falsehood seems to prosper and truth appears to be failing, God's vindication will come. Just as Pastor Brandon shared the humorous story of how his dog Maggie learned to fear "Bob the rabbit" and now responds immediately to the warning "Bob's going to get you," there comes a point when God's judgment is so decisive that His name alone brings recognition and response.
The message for us today is clear: we must be discerning about the voices we listen to, especially those claiming to speak for God. False teaching and spiritual deception continue to be real threats in our world, offering easy solutions and comfortable promises without the substance of truth. As believers, we're called to test everything against Scripture and to recognize that true prophecy will always align with God's revealed character and purposes. Though we may experience seasons where it seems like falsehood is prospering, we can take comfort in knowing that God's justice is coming, and His truth will ultimately prevail. When God has had enough, nothing can prevent His justice from being realized.
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