One day, some elders of Judah came to meet Ezekiel, perhaps hoping to hear what the LORD had to say about their present condition or the exile that awaited them. As they sat before him, the word of the LORD came, revealing that these men claimed to belong to Him yet had built idols within their own hearts. They had placed stumbling blocks before their faces, choosing to ignore the LORD’s warnings while giving others a false sense of security that everything was acceptable as long as they continued to offer praise. Because they had grown accustomed to dismissing His voice, the LORD refused to allow Ezekiel to inquire on their behalf.
“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 13:6 (NIV)
Idolaters Seeking the LORD
God warned that anyone—Israelite or foreigner—who turns away from Him and sets up idols in their heart, yet still seeks a prophetic word, will be confronted directly by Him. He will oppose them, make them an example, and cut them off from His people, so that they will know He is the LORD. Even prophets who allow themselves to be enticed into speaking falsely will share the same judgment, bearing equal guilt with those who inquire of them.
Why does God respond in this harsh manner when people turn to idols and still claim seek His guidance?
God responds in a harsh manner when people turn to idols yet still claim to seek His guidance because, without such severity, they would never repent. If He allowed them to feel satisfied and unchallenged, they would assume nothing is wrong and continue in their deception. Their praise may come from changed circumstances rather than changed hearts, and if they are not confronted by God, they remain trapped in their delusion. Offering them false hope or pacifying them only becomes a stumbling block, stopping their journey back to Him. In truth, they do not really want guidance; they only feel in that moment that it is safer or wiser to consult the LORD. Through this severe correction, God’s purpose is that His people will stop wandering, turn from their sins, and return to belonging wholly to Him.
Righteous by Proximity
God declares that when a nation persists in unfaithfulness and He brings judgment—whether famine, wild beasts, sword, or plague—even the presence of righteous men like Noah, Daniel, and Job would not spare the land. Their righteousness could save only themselves, not their children or the nation.
Why do people believe that proximity to a “holy place” or a “holy person” can make them righteous?
People believe that proximity to a “holy place” or a “holy person” can make them righteous because, rather than taking a deep look at themselves, they would rather live in ignorance. They know they are missing out on relationship with God and can feel His absence in their day-to-day lives, but instead of confronting that thought, they find it easier to shadow someone they feel is on the right path or visit a place that will make them clean. In doing this, they fall into various traps, as they do not have the discernment to know who is from God and who is not.
It is easier for us to believe that proximity alone can make us righteous. Many assume that simply being near spiritual things or spiritual people is enough, because true approach to God feels costly. We imagine that coming before Him requires letting go of what we cherish in this world—and we are unwilling to release it. So we look for mediators, not out of humility, but because we do not want to leave the worldly attachments that hold us. We prefer a designated driver who will take us toward God while allowing us to remain rooted in the comforts of this life. We welcome people who assure us, “You are in the presence of God because of us,” giving us a false sense of security without requiring genuine surrender.
God warns that Jerusalem will face all four of His severe judgments—sword, famine, wild beasts, and plague—yet a small remnant will survive. When their conduct is later observed, it will confirm that God’s judgment was not without cause, and this understanding will bring consolation to those who witness it.
You will be consoled when you see their conduct and their actions, for you will know that I have done nothing in it without cause, declares the Sovereign LORD. ”
Ezekiel 14:23 (NIV)
If we claim that God is just in all His ways, why do we grumble when things do not go as we desire?
We do not truly feel that God is just we just assume it based on hearsay; we only call Him just when we see bad things happen to others. In our minds, we assume their troubles came because of their sins and that God is punishing them because He is just. But when we walk through our own valley of the shadow of death, instead of fearing no evil, we turn our back on the very God we claimed to be just in everything and begin to question His very existence.
A Tree Without Any Fruit
God gave Ezekiel a vision of a vine branch to explain Israel’s condition. A vine is very different from other trees in a forest. Trees have strong wood that can be used to make many useful things. But the wood of a vine is weak and cannot be used to build anything. It cannot even be used to make a simple peg to hang something on. A vine is only valuable when it bears fruit. If it has no fruit, the wood itself has no purpose other than firewood.
“Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: As I have given the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest as fuel for the fire, so will I treat the people living in Jerusalem.
Ezekiel 15:6 (NIV)
God is telling His people that they had stopped living for the purpose He created them. They were meant to “bear fruit” by trusting Him, obeying Him, and living in a way that showed His character. But when they turned away from Him, they became like a vine that produces no fruit—still a vine, but with no value in what it was meant to do. The fire represents the judgment they were facing, which would leave them even weaker and unable to stand on their own.
Like the people of Jerusalem, why do we fail to recognise our barrenness?
We fail to recognize our barrenness because we are occupied with worldly blessings and remain blind to our own faults. Instead of measuring our lives against the standard of God, we compare ourselves with those around us in our fellowships and churches, convincing ourselves that we are doing well. Over time, we have ignored the conviction of the Spirit until His prompting no longer stirs us, and we have grown immune to His voice. We surround ourselves with people who share the same mindset—voices that reassure rather than challenge, false prophets and empty affirmations that make everything appear fine, leaving no space for true retrospection or repentance. In the end, just like the people of Jerusalem who were like a vine branch cut of from the tree, we too are failing to fulfill the purpose of our existence.
The Jordan Valley 
Reply