Ezekiel 14:3

“Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?”

Context:The book of Ezekiel is a prophetic book in the Old Testament. The prophet Ezekiel was called by God to deliver messages to the exiled Israelites in Babylon. The Israelites had turned away from God, worshiped idols, and practiced sinful behaviours. In this particular passage, Ezekiel is addressing the elders of Israel who have come to inquire of the Lord.

Setting:The Israelites were living in a foreign land, far from their homeland, and they were facing various challenges. Despite their sinful ways, they still approached the prophet for guidance and sought the Lord’s favour.

Idolatry of the heart:The verse begins by describing the condition of the people’s hearts. They had set up idols in their hearts, meaning they had placed other things or desires above God. Idolatry doesn’t necessarily involve physical statues but rather an attitude of the heart that places something or someone as more important than God. This idolatry hindered their relationship with God.

The stumbling block of iniquity:The people not only had idols in their hearts but also put stumbling blocks of iniquity before their faces. These stumbling blocks refer to the sins they engaged in, which became obstacles or barriers to their relationship with God. They were actively participating in sinful behaviours, which hindered their ability to approach God.

God’s response:In this verse, God questions whether He should be inquired of by these people. He raises a rhetorical question to emphasise the seriousness of their idolatry and sin. Despite their outward show of seeking the Lord’s guidance, their hearts were far from Him. God, being holy and just, cannot ignore or tolerate sin. He desires a genuine relationship with His people, based on true repentance and a turning away from sin.

Lessons for us:This passage reminds us of the importance of examining our hearts and motives before seeking God. It’s not enough to go through the motions of seeking Him while harbouring idols in our hearts or engaging in sinful behaviours. God desires true repentance, a turning away from sin, and a sincere desire to follow Him. We should be willing to remove any stumbling blocks that hinder our relationship with God and wholeheartedly seek Him.

• Application:As believers, we should constantly evaluate our hearts and actions. Are there any idols or sinful habits that we have allowed to take precedence over God? Are there stumbling blocks that hinder our relationship with Him? We should strive to remove these obstacles and seek a genuine and wholehearted relationship with God, aligning our lives with His will.