“Then Israel will no longer be tempted to trust in Egypt for help. Egypt’s shattered condition will remind Israel of how sinful she was to trust Egypt in earlier days. Then Israel will know that I am the Sovereign LORD.” [Ezekiel 29.16]
In light of the progression of my thoughts over the last few weeks regarding idolatry, this verse stands out as an eerie warning. I will describe here how it seems to apply:
Just as Egypt had become an 'idol' to Israel (the object of Israel's trust instead of God), so man's devices and design have become an 'idol' to God's people claiming man's faith and trust like a thief taking what is not his. What are man's devices and design? Money, science and medicine, technology, education (knowledge), and even 'self'.
If the writings and prophecies of Ezekiel and other Old Testament prophets mean anything to us today (which they do), then we can look forward to all our 'idols' to come crashing down - smitten by the jealous hand of God for stealing away the hearts and trust of man that God claimed as His own.
What does that mean?
It means that money and all its complicated systems will fail.
I means that science and medicine and all its explanations will be confounded and confused.
It means that technology in all its promise of 'convenience' will leave us hopelessly stranded in increased busy-ness.
It means that education with all its advancement will prove the ultimate exercise of futility and uselessness.
It means that no matter how we promote 'self', we will find only increased brokenness and loneliness.
Why would God do this? To remind us of how sinful we are to trust these things instead of Him.
We all wish what is stated here is wrong.
Father, forgive me for my own faithless idolatry and adultery with the devices and design of man.
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