Is God Unjust To Ask Such A Sacrifice Of Ezekiel And His Wife? Series

WHAT DO WE DO WITH THIS? Is God unjust to ask such a sacrifice of Ezekiel and his wife?

- Ezekiel 24:15-27.

- This is just a tough passage, but it’s one that points us to an important truth that often gets overlooked in the American church. Let’s start by unpacking this passage and then we’ll look at several relevant other passages.

I think the easiest approach is just to go verse by verse and then talk big picture.

- v. 15.

- This is from the Lord, so we’re dealing with His will and not, as sometimes happens, someone speaking falsely in His name.

- v. 16a.

- God is going to take the life of Ezekiel’s wife. This is the crux of our dilemma this evening and what makes us question God’s fairness and love.

- Note that his wife is the “delight of [his] eyes,” so there was great love there.

- vv. 16b-17.

- The death of Ezekiel’s wife is an object lesson for Israel. Part of the lesson involves Ezekiel’s response: he is instructed to not do all the traditional acts of mourning.

- v. 18.

- This actually happened.

- v. 19.

- This had the desired effect. Ezekiel’s unusual behavior raised the curiosity of the people, who asked him what this was all about and how it related to them.

- This creates a moment when Ezekiel doesn’t have to demand the attention of the people - he’s got it.

- vv. 20-24.

- Now we get to the point.

- It starts with a familiar mantra in the Old Testament: the people of Israel have wandered away from God and into sin. Now God is going to bring judgment.

- The people’s focus has been on the sanctuary of God. It is the “delight of your eyes” (v. 21), just as Ezekiel’s wife was to him. But their religion was an empty one, focused on outward ritual but lacking inward faithfulness.

- Now judgment from God is going to fall. The sanctuary they love will be desecrated as their land is captured. - - - - Those they love will die (v. 21b), just as Ezekiel lost someone he loved.

- Then God tells them that, like Ezekiel, they too will not mourn. It is possible this is a command for them - along the lines of “Don’t mourn when this happens because you deserve what’s happened to you.”

- I think it’s more likely, though, that this is not something they will choose to do, but instead it is just something they will do because the situation demands it. The tragedy will fall on them so suddenly and their situation will change so fast that they will not have time or opportunity to mourn (vv. 22-23). Under normal circumstances the death of their children would lead to an extended and profound mourning. But not when you’re in the midst of chaos and running for your life.

- Verse 24 brings that idea to a conclusion. God is telling the people of Israel: “When this happens, think back on Ezekiel and how he didn’t mourn and know that this was a called shot. I told you this was going to happen and Ezekiel’s situation is burned forever in your memory. In that moment, you will know without question that this is from Me. This isn’t just bad luck and poor military preparation. No, this is divine judgment.”

- So we have that point, clearly explained. And that could be our sermon tonight: when we have sinned greatly, God brings judgment. That’s a good and frequently repeated Biblical truth. If you’re in that situation this evening, take warning.

- But, honestly, that’s not what draws my attention in this passage.

- What gets me is the simple fact that God asks this of Ezekiel and his wife.

- Why does God ask this of Ezekiel and his wife?

- Is it unjust of God to ask this of Ezekiel and his wife?

- Is this too great a sacrifice?

- What does this tell us about what expects of us?

- To answer those questions, we’ve got a lot of ground to cover and multiple passages to look at.

- I should note as we start down this road this evening that I do think this troubling passage raises a question that is a huge blind spot for the American church. It’s a point where we have deliberately chosen a different path that has serious implications that are plainly evident.

“I KNOW THE PLANS I HAVE FOR YOU”: This speaks directly to what we might call the “God has a wonderful plan for your life” school of thought in American Christianity.

- I want to begin with a non-Biblical phrase that has been ubiquitous in American Christianity over the last 75 years: “God has a wonderful plan for your life.”