Do You Trust Me?

“I am the LORD, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me? [Jeremiah 32.27] 

Do we take out loans at interest, or trust God to miraculously provide for us?

“I am the LORD, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me? [Jeremiah 32.27]

Do we insure every belonging and facet of life, or do we trust God to miraculously protect us?

“I am the LORD, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me? [Jeremiah 32.27] 

Do we take every medicine that comes along promising better or longer life, or do we trust God to miraculously preserve our health?

“I am the LORD, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me? [Jeremiah 32.27]

Do we allow technology to tell us what we need, or trust God to miraculously keep us free from its cycle of unending obsolescence?

“I am the LORD, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me? [Jeremiah 32.27]

QUESTION: But, doesn't God use the industries of finance, insurance, medicine and technology to meet man's needs?

ANSWER: Why should God have to use the man-made industries of finance, insurance, medicine and technology if He would make the following statement and question:

“I am the LORD, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me? [Jeremiah 32.27]

If our miracle-working jealous God is limited by nothing, why would He ever choose to use man's alternative methods of providing for His people - methods that man could (and eventually would) depend on without Him (instead of Him)?

THINK! Would my wife (with whom I am in full marriage covenant with - she is totally mine, and I am totally hers) ever give me the phone number of a prostitute (let alone set up a rendezvous) for that prostitute to have sex with me in exchange for money? Would my wife invite that prostitute over to our own house? She will not do it, and she will make no provision for me to do it!

"Preposterous," you say??? But that is exactly what God's covenant people do when they insist that God uses the man-made ways of the world to meet their needs - needs He said He alone would provide as part of His covenant relationship with His people!

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. [Matthew 6.33]

“If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24] 

God, Who claims, "I am the LORD, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me?" is asking His people right now, "Do you trust Me for everything you need?" 

Father, we are without excuse for our idolatry and refusal to trust You alone for our every need (whether we can figure it out or not). Our sin of idolatry is greater than at any other time in history. Few consider Jesus' words quoted above with any gravity but instead intentionally and conveniently view them through abstract glasses. We are grossly idolatrous and clueless to the fact that our idolatry is the source of so much sin in our lives that we are powerless to overcome. Father, please forgive me for my spiritual prostitution and every attempt to justify it with religion and abstract faith. May I be found giving up my own way, taking up my cross, and following Jesus... I don't need the world's approval. I don't need religion's approval. I need Your approval. I trust You. So be it.

The "Name" Does Not Matter - The "Role" Does

On January 7, during the tenth year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity, this message came to me from the LORD: “Son of man, turn and face Egypt and prophesy against Pharaoh the king and all the people of Egypt. [Ezekiel 29.1-2] 

There is more to not trusting in idols than just not trusting in idols! While God's people do well to simply obey God to avoid idolatry, Egypt's downfall provides sufficient reason why.

Every idol, Egypt included (because of their role regarding Israel and Judah), will fail.

We must remind ourselves here that the Bible is not just a history book! The Bible is God's Word to His people today! It was written such that its relevance would be eternal - because Jesus is eternal, and He is the Living Word. 

While "Egypt" was the name of an idol that Israel and Judah turned to in Ezekiel's time, idols today have many other contemporary names. Therefore, for God's people to understand the timeless accurate relevance of the Bible's ancient writings today, they must consider the idol, not the name. To do so, we must consider the role of every named thing, irrespective of its name, to determine if its role is that of an idol. Once God's people identify an idol by its role, only then does its name serve as its historical place marker, like the name "Egypt."

Every idol is identified by one major qualifier: people trust it instead of, or in addition to, God.

Israel trusted that an idol named "Egypt" would protect them from other attacking nations. Egypt did not reject its idol status given by Israel, but proudly accepted it. Ezekiel 29 gives us God's response:

“I am your enemy, O Pharaoh, king of Egypt— [Ezekiel 29.3]

This is, in fact, God's response to every idol for all time as we know it regardless the name of the idol.

In our day, God might just as easily and generically say, "I am your enemy, O industry of finance—" God might also say, "I am your enemy, O industry of insurance—" In the same way, God might say, "I am your enemy, O industry of medicine—" or, "I am your enemy, O industry of technology—" God would have quite a list today if He specified the name of every idol because the names of finance, insurance, medicine, and technology industries are many!

But again, the names of these industries do not matter - but their role as idols does. The fact that the plethora of these names make up entire industries is a sad testament to the extent of idolatry in our day.

As with ancient Egypt, and this is where God's people need to pay particularly close attention, modern idols' have a shelf-life because they are enemies of God and their destruction is just a decision of God away. Man's idol industries today brag of their success and strength ...just like Pharoah of Egypt did! But, their advertisements are merely the baseless claims of idols destined for destruction by God Almighty. And, here is where the name becomes important... "Egypt" today is NOT a world leader like other nations. Why? Because God took their power away as easily as taking candy from a baby. They were once powerful proudly enjoying their idol status and then God knocked them down.

It will be the lowliest of all the nations, never again great enough to rise above its neighbors. [Ezekiel 29.15]

And, this is the destiny of every idol today. The names will change, but their fate will not. For this reason, it is pure foolishness to trust in them instead of, or in addition to, God. 

Father, Egypt's fate only supports Your commandments regarding idolatry. Egypt's fate only supports Jesus' demand that we give up our own way, take up our cross, and follow Him. So be it.

Does It...? It Should!

You will be fully repaid for all your prostitution—your worship of idols. Yes, you will suffer the full penalty. Then you will know that I am the Sovereign LORD.” [Ezekiel 23.49] 

Does it alarm God's people that they are so overwhelmingly powerless in the earth today? 

It should.

Does it concern God's people that they indistinguishably suffer all the same curses as the world?

It should.

Does it leave a void in God's people to hear the popular "faith" message of some religious groups but not see that faith actually fulfilled?

It should.

Does it cause an unsettling abstraction (watering down) of faith in God's' people to hear the otherwise "bad-things-can-happen-to-good-people" message of other (opposing) religious groups even though the Bible promises mountain-moving miracles for the faithful?

Does it???

It should!

Powerlessness, curses, unfulfilled faith, and abstract faith are all conditions that the BIBLE, in its whole story, links to unfaithfulness to God - to spiritual prostitution - to the worship of idols.

What's more, the BIBLE, in its whole story, points God's people to Jesus, Who, when He came to earth, demonstrated faith as it should be, among those who would give up their own way, take up their cross, and follow Him. The only curses Jesus suffered were those that He, in undiluted faith, CHOSE to suffer on behalf of those who believe!

When we suffer curses, it is NOT an expression of God's love for us but an expression of God's justice. Curses are the "rumble strips" of life that tell us we are not on the right path and need to make a correction (repent). And, this is where idolatry enters... Instead of correcting to avoid the "rumble strips" we pay idols to mitigate not only the "rumble strips" but also the catastrophic "ditch" that lies beyond. Instead of humbly recognizing the implications of the rumble strips and making corrections, we seek solutions for the discomfort caused by the rumble strips and what lies beyond them, telling ourselves that rumble strips are just "the way of life." In fact, so much money is exchanged today to mitigate the discomfort of these "rumble strips" that man has made for himself enormous industries to handle it all... Some of the largest of these industries are finance, insurance, medicine and technology.

Idol industries all offer God-less solutions for God-invoked problems. "Problems" are curses (see Deuteronomy 28.15-68) whose design signals a need to repent. In this way, idol industries are prostitutes paid for services God intends for His people to come to Him for (starting with repentance and continuing in undiluted faith in Christ). But prostitutes don't care about repentance and faith - all prostitutes want is the money. Of course, religion doesn't teach this, but the Bible does! And, boy, does it! The Bible's prophets were unrelenting in their outrage against idolatry because of the filthy prostitution it is.

The more God's people turn to idols, the more God turns away from them (because God will not "behold" (look upon) idols). The end result then for "God's people" is powerlessness. The end result leaves God's people indistinguishable from the God-less world.

Should not God's people, because the Bible speaks so much against idolatry, understand that idolatry IS the problem today? Should not all the various religious denominations and sects humbly recognize their powerless condition? Should not "the Church" distinctly represent God in all His power and glory in the earth today? Why does the Church focus more on looking like the world then (to "bring them in") instead of like Jesus? The answer is the same as always: because of spiritual prostitution - idolatry that runs unchecked among those who should most abhor it.

God's people, in their powerless condition today, are living under the full penalty for their spiritual prostitution, AND THEY ARE NONE THE WISER. And, until they understand that God is indeed the Sovereign LORD and yield to Him as such in following Christ (giving up their own way, taking up their cross), they will never enjoy the glorious power and distinction of God's Kingdom on earth, let alone in heaven.

Too much? Consider the story of Oholah and Oholibah that precedes the subject verse of this article (Ezekiel 23.1-48). Go ahead and read about the 'fondling of breasts' that led to all manner of prostitution... God has never tolerated idolatry, and, Jesus did not come so He ever would! That is precisely why Jesus laid out the verbal gauntlet:

“If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24]

We can all wish it wasn't so, but it does not change God's Word. God did not preserve all the Biblical texts decrying idolatry just to say, "Never mind!" Jesus did not relieve mankind of the task of avoiding idolatry, but rather, put hyper-focus on it. "Give up your own way" leaves no room for any idol including, the original idol of "self."

The "cursed" powerless condition of the Church today (regardless of every abstract claim otherwise) is everything Ezekiel 23.49 above says it is: the full penalty for prostitution - the worship of idols. Following Jesus, on His terms alone, is the only remedy.

Father, Your Word is relentless on the subject of idolatry. No wonder people are content to remain ignorant of it! Let there be an undaunted return to Your Word among Your people - not a focus on extra-biblical books and literature (no matter how well-meaning) - but a hunger and thirst for Your Word as it is preserved today in the Bible. May Your people find the strength there to give up their own way, take up their cross, and follow Jesus - to Whom all of Your Word points us. So be it.

A Timeless Message From God

On August 14, during the seventh year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity, some of the leaders of Israel came to request a message from the LORD. They sat down in front of me to wait for his reply. Then this message came to me from the LORD: “Son of man, tell the leaders of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: How dare you come to ask me for a message? As surely as I live, says the Sovereign LORD, I will tell you nothing!’ [Ezekiel 20.1-3] 

The very first thing we must establish before even beginning to discuss Ezekiel 20 (as with all God's Word) is that the Bible speaks directly to us today. If we fail to see the explicit relevance of ALL of God's Word to His people today, we have no hope of "following Christ" in the full capacity He demands (Matthew 16.24-25).

With this established and understood, the spiritual leaders and people in Ezekiel's day were no different than the spiritual leaders and people of our day. God's people today want a "word from God" - a promise of relief - but remain unwilling to "right themselves" with God according to His Word (the Bible - Jesus).

To the point of the first paragraph above (following the subject passage), God's people must understand that Jesus' demand to give up our own way, take up our cross, and follow Him indeed has an antithesis. The polar opposite of everything Jesus demands of His followers in Matthew 16.24-25 is described in Israel's indiscretion found in Ezekiel 20.4-7:

“Son of man, bring charges against them and condemn them. Make them realize how detestable the sins of their ancestors really were. Give them this message from the Sovereign LORD: When I chose Israel—when I revealed myself to the descendants of Jacob in Egypt—I took a solemn oath that I, the LORD, would be their God. I took a solemn oath that day that I would bring them out of Egypt to a land I had discovered and explored for them—a good land, a land flowing with milk and honey, the best of all lands anywhere. Then I said to them, ‘Each of you, get rid of the vile images you are so obsessed with. Do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt, for I am the LORD your God.’ [Ezekiel 20.4-7]

Idolatry (selfishly trusting in anything other than or in addition to God) is central to every accusation made against God's people in the Bible. And yet, God's people today foolishly come to Him looking for relieving promises with no intention whatsoever of being "set apart" from the world. They want the promise of "Jesus" but they don't want to give up their own way, take up their cross, and follow Him. Few spiritual leaders of our day are decrying this hollow religious and subsequently powerless practice.

“But they rebelled against me and would not listen. They did not get rid of the vile images they were obsessed with, or forsake the idols of Egypt. Then I threatened to pour out my fury on them to satisfy my anger while they were still in Egypt. But I didn’t do it, for I acted to protect the honor of my name. I would not allow shame to be brought on my name among the surrounding nations who saw me reveal myself by bringing the Israelites out of Egypt. So I brought them out of Egypt and led them into the wilderness. There I gave them my decrees and regulations so they could find life by keeping them. And I gave them my Sabbath days of rest as a sign between them and me. It was to remind them that I am the LORD, who had set them apart to be holy. [Ezekiel 20.8-12]

Jesus is the Sabbath Rest. The very Sabbath Rest prescribed in the 4th Commandment rightly follows the first three commandments explicitly establishing God alone as God, and strictly prohibiting idolatry. For those who cannot see this no-idols/Jesus-only presentation in the Ten Commandments, it was spelled out very clearly by Jesus in His time on earth:

“If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24]

While the Church today persistently continues to pursue their "cheap grace" in partial representation of Jesus Christ limited to out-of-context New Testament writings, Jesus' very own words in Matthew 16.24 reveal that He is the quintessential revelation of ALL God's Word! In fact, "cheap grace" ignores many of Jesus' words, tragically giving misguided meaning to the Apostle Paul's letters without regard for the full counsel of God's Word.

And still, God's people today, like the ancient leaders of Israel, want a "word from God" - a promise that all is well - while ignoring obvious debilitating idolatry in their lives. They must necessarily explain Matthew 16.24 in abstract terms to avoid confrontation with their idolatry.

It is pure foolishness to seek a "word from God" when we willfully reject the notion of giving up our idols in order to follow Jesus - the Word He has already given us.

Father, I thank You that You have "given us a word." Thank You that the concision of that word is Jesus, found from Genesis 1 to Revelation 22, with timeless relevance today. May the truth of Your Word, Jesus, be evident and fulfilled in us as we give up our own way, take up our cross, and follow Him. So be it.

Broken Covenant Is A Big Deal

“So this is what the Sovereign LORD says: As surely as I live, I will punish him for breaking my covenant and disregarding the solemn oath he made in my name. [Ezekiel17.19] 

This conclusion comes after the riddle about the two great eagles. It has everything to do with Israel not remaining loyal to a covenant relationship with God alone. If we can see it, it further describes the covenant relationship of marriage descried earlier in Ezekiel (yesterday's One Year Chaological Bible reading).

If God had not promised His people that He would care for their every need (blessings) in His Covenant, things would be much different for God's people (past, present and future). But, that is simply not the case. 

God made all-encompassing covenant promises to bless His people if they remained loyal to Him (see Deuteronomy 28.1-14). In so doing, God made those blessings His to provide for His people and His alone, the same as a husband makes covenant relationship with his wife and she looks only to him (and not another man) for her every need.

God did no less in His New Covenant in Jesus Christ. Jesus described life in Himself as the Kingdom of God then described what that covenant relationship should look like much that same as Deuteronomy 28.1-14 described:

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. [Matthew 6.33]

It is just as much idolatry to violate the terms of the New Covenant in Christ Jesus as it was idolatry to violate the Old Covenant! To receive the provisions of Matthew 6.33 from any other source than God alone is spiritual adultery - it is stepping outside the New Covenant relationship with God through His Son, Jesus, and doing things our own way. Jesus Himself was very clear about doing things our own way:

“If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. [Matthew 16.24-25]

Today's One Year Chronological Bible reading describes the condition of people with divided or misdirected loyalties:

But when the vine is transplanted, will it thrive? No, it will wither away when the east wind blows against it. It will die in the same good soil where it had grown so well.” [Ezekiel 17.10]

And the New Testament supports this also:

Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do. [James 1.8] 

And then, with the entire Bible telling us exactly why it is so, we still wonder today why it seems our faith is so powerless! 

Broken covenant is a big deal to God. It was in ancient times, and it is now. For God's people's faith to be placed anywhere except in Him alone is spiritual adultery against "Jealous God."

Father, as plainly as it is presented here, unless Your people know Your Word (knowing You) they will not, because they cannot see the truth of what is said here. Help us to go to Your Word - to know it - to know You - to know Jesus - finding the clear Kingdom directive to give up our own way, take up our cross, and follow Him. Help us to see that Your miraculous power is reserved only for those with undivided loyalty to You! So be it.

The "Smoking Gun"

They will burn your homes and punish you in front of many women. I will stop your prostitution and end your payments to your many lovers. [Ezekiel 16.41] 

What makes a prostitute "a prostitute"?

Or, what makes prostitution "prostitution"?

A prostitute accepts payment from someone who is not their spouse for services otherwise free to their spouse.

An unfaithful person gives payment to someone who is not their spouse for services otherwise free from their spouse.

The thing that connects the prostitute and the unfaithful person is the presence of payment (money) in the absence of covenant relationship (marriage).

Today's One Year Chronological Bible reading starts off with Ezekiel giving the following message from the LORD:

“Son of man, these leaders have set up idols in their hearts. They have embraced things that will make them fall into sin. Why should I listen to their requests? [Ezekiel 14.3]

From this indictment, God takes Ezekiel down a path that likens Israel's sin of idolatry to prostitution (Ezekiel 16). The phrase, "idols in their hearts" can be understood contextually by the likeness of payments to your many lovers.

Although the entire Old Testament speaks to the recurring problem of idolatry, we should understand that Jesus addressed that very unfaithfulness described throughout the Bible in clear terms:

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. [Matthew 6.33]

Throughout history, man's dependence upon anything other than God for his needs is seen as unfaithfulness. In fact, today's OYCB reading reveals God's disdain with such unfaithfulness:

And I will make the land desolate because my people have been unfaithful to me. I, the Sovereign LORD, have spoken!” [Ezekiel 15.8]

We can reverse-engineer the passage above to rightly conclude that desolation, described in detail as the curses for disobedience found in Deuteronomy 28.15-68, is caused by idolatry. Unfaithfulness is disobedience to God.

If, as Jesus pointed out, God is our source for everything we need, then, for us to seek anything we need from any source other than God is unfaithfulness - it is idolatry. The end result is that God's people will experience every curse just like those who are not God's people (the world) even though, and at the same time because, they are making payments to prostitutes for those needs.

Even though man does not recognize his man-made idols as "idols," his major industries of finance, insurance, medicine and technology all fit the Biblical description of idols in every way. They all fit Ezekiel's description of prostitution in every way - most damningly so however in the exchange of money for services. If it weren't for the fact that the godless world depends on finance, insurance, medicine and technology, it "might be possible" (although highly unlikely according to the Bible) that God would endorse and use those industries to meet His people's needs. But, the fact that "God's people" and the "world" both depend on these industries for their needs to be met, means "someone" is getting their needs met outside their covenant relationship (and, it's not the world because they are not in covenant relationship)!

The undeniable "smoking gun" in the scenario above is payment. God said, "I will stop your prostitution and end your payments to your many lovers." Finance, insurance, medicine and technology cannot and will not ever be separated from payments! They exist and continue because of the exchange of money for services.

Idolatry is prostitution against God. As God promised to meet our every need, it is prostitution to seek to have those needs met elsewhere.

Father, Your Word makes it simple and clear: You demand our undivided trust in You alone. Jesus confirmed it in demanding that we give up our own way, take up our cross, and follow Him. May we be found following Jesus. So be it.

Religion And Religious People

“When the people return to their homeland, they will remove every trace of their vile images and detestable idols. And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their stony, stubborn heart and give them a tender, responsive heart, so they will obey my decrees and regulations. Then they will truly be my people, and I will be their God. But as for those who long for vile images and detestable idols, I will repay them fully for their sins. I, the Sovereign LORD, have spoken!” [Ezekiel 11.18-21] 

On this date in 2021, I wrote the article, What Are We Trusting In?. Then, on this date in 2024, I wrote, God Will Not Cohabit With Idols. I recommend reading both these articles.

Today, however, it should be pointed out that the conditions of Ezekiel 11.18-21 are made clear: God will not even begin to move in the hearts and lives of His people until idols are intentionally removed. This conditional language is a matter of principle with God and is therefore timeless - meaning it is as relevant today as it was the day it was written - and perhaps, even more so.

The sad, and also timeless, condition of man is his unwillingness to give up his idols.

In eternal relevance, Jesus Christ made no less conditional statements, a couple of which stand out:

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. [Matthew 6.33]

“If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. [Matthew 16.24-25]

As this author has pointed out elsewhere repeatedly, the Bible has been telling God's people this very message all along. The problem is found when people, for whatever reason (usually traceable to pride and rebellion), believe the Bible means something different than what it says.

The belief that the Bible means something different than what it says is called "religion."

When one believes that the Bible means something different than what it says, he is "religious."

It should never be forgotten that they were religious people who instigated Jesus' crucifixion. If we believe that the Bible means something different than what it actually says, we are the problem - we are the religious people of our day - we are, in effect, opposed to everything "Jesus."

Yes, the implications of this are damning on a "Christian" society that, instead of ridding themselves of idols, justifies them as necessary "gifts from God." This is precisely what "Christians" do today when they defend the idol industries of finance, insurance, medicine and technology. Every one of these idol industries exists to do for man what God said He would do for man, but these idols industries offer their benefits without accountability to God (among many other tell-tale idol-identifying characteristics).

God's disdain for idols is not going away. Idols prevented ancient man from enjoying God in all His fullness as pointed out in all the Bible and idols prevent man today from enjoying God in all His fullness (Jesus Christ). In Biblical language, "...they will [not] truly be my people, and I will [not] be their God" until they "remove every trace of their vile images and detestable idols."

Again, this is everything Jesus demanded of His disciples and demands of us today:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

Religion and religious people are the antithesis of Jesus. Instead of accepting Jesus' demands for face value, they proudly (rebelliously) defend their interpretations of what Jesus said. Idols are the way of man. Jesus said His followers MUST give up their own way...

Unsurprisingly, Ezekiel describes the problem in today's One Year Chronological Bible reading:

Again a message came to me from the LORD: “Son of man, you live among rebels who have eyes but refuse to see. They have ears but refuse to hear. For they are a rebellious people. [Ezekiel 12.1-2]

The accuracy of God's Word in describing the condition of man today is undeniable... God's people refuse to see and hear... 

Father, may Your true people see and hear the truth of Your Word. May they give up their own way, take up their cross, and follow Jesus. So be it.