God’s Saving Hand

Ezekiel emphasized his theme, you will know that I am the Lord, in the second half of chapter 13. God struck out in wrath against the false prophets.

• He removed their power to sway the people and lead them astray.
• Ezekiel didn’t describe this remnant, but the Lord said He would save his people from the snares of the wicked in Israel.
• These various events point Ezekiel’s current and future readers to know God as the Sovereign Lord.

In this chapter, Ezekiel described what God did to the false prophets compared to His provision for His people.

“‘Because they lead my people astray, saying, “Peace,” when there is no peace, and because, when a flimsy wall is built, they cover it with whitewash, therefore tell those who cover it with whitewash that it is going to fall. Rain will come in torrents, and I will send hailstones hurtling down, and violent winds will burst forth. When the wall collapses, will people not ask you, “Where is the whitewash you covered it with?”

“‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: In my wrath I will unleash a violent wind, and in my anger hailstones and torrents of rain will fall with destructive fury (Ezekiel 13:10-13).

• Israel’s prophets led the people astray and deceived them with false claims of peace.
• They did not properly prepare Israel’s wall against the battle to come, but whitewashed it over to make it look fine.
• This first word for “wall” refers to a flimsy, weak, wall that will easily fall.¹
• Israel would experience God’s wrath in torrential rain, hail, and violent wind.
• He would unleash His storm against His people.
• God’s fury, shown through the storm, would split and tear down the whitewashed wall.
• The people would ask what happened to the “repaired” wall.

*How is this scene about God’s wrath significant for us today?

*When and how do we build weak or false walls against an enemy? Why are such walls inadequate?

‘“I will tear down the wall you have covered with whitewash and will level it to the ground so that its foundation will be laid bare. When it falls, you will be destroyed in it; and you will know that I am the Lord. So I will pour out my wrath against the wall and against those who covered it with whitewash. I will say to you, “The wall is gone and so are those who whitewashed it, those prophets of Israel who prophesied to Jerusalem and saw visions of peace for her when there was no peace, declares the Sovereign Lord”’ (Ezekiel 14-16).

• The fallen foundation would destroy the Israelites.
• It was a falsely repaired wall, with an inadequate foundation, and would be torn down and laid bare. Its weakness would be revealed.
• Only the true Foundation will stand.

“He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure” (Isaiah 33:6).

• By that violent act they will know that I am the Lord.
• God is stronger than any (false) foundation they build their hope upon.
• God’s wrath was against Israel’s false sense of security and against those who led the people astray.
• They spoke peace to the people when there was no peace.
• Listen to the Sovereign Lord instead of false prophets.

*What is significant about the concept of an inadequate foundation?

*What inadequate foundations should we be aware of today?

*What does it mean for us to listen to the Sovereign Lord instead of false prophets?

 “Now, son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people who prophesy out of their own imagination. Prophesy against them and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to the women who sew magic charms on all their wrists and make veils of various lengths for their heads in order to ensnare people. Will you ensnare the lives of my people but preserve your own? You have profaned me among my people for a few handfuls of barley and scraps of bread. By lying to my people, who listen to lies, you have killed those who should not have died and have spared those who should not live” (Ezekiel 13:17-19).

• Not only men, but also women, claimed to prophesy.
• Female prophets wore magic charms and veils.
• God said their veils would ensnare others while these female prophets sought to preserve their own lives.
• “Lives” may also be translated “souls,”² which sheds new light on those who were ensnared.
• The false prophets’ words were completely irreverent and disrespectful toward the Lord.
• They lied to the people.
• Israel isn’t completely innocent; God pointed out His people also listened to lies.
• Even so, through the false prophet’s lies, innocent people died, while the guilty lived.

*Why is it important to listen to God’s Words on spiritual matters?

*Why do people readily listen to lies, especially regarding spiritual things?

*How does false prophecy and “magic” ensnare people today?

 “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against your magic charms with which you ensnare people like birds and I will tear them from your arms; I will set free the people that you ensnare like birds. I will tear off your veils and save my people from your hands, and they will no longer fall prey to your power. Then you will know that I am the Lord’” (Ezekiel 13:20-21).

• God declared He was against magic charms that ensnare people in evil.
• “Ensnare” includes the concept of hunting down with intent to capture.³
• In verse 14, when the weakness of the wall was revealed, it alludes also to the exile.⁴
• Through these verses, Ezekiel portrayed God’s wrath compared to His mercy.
• He would set free and save His people from false prophets.
• Their “power” would not withstand the holy God.
• By God’s mighty hand, they would know that I am the Lord.
• God is more powerful than any false prophecies or magic charms.

‘Because you disheartened the righteous with your lies, when I had brought them no grief, and because you encouraged the wicked not to turn from their evil ways and so save their lives, therefore you will no longer see false visions or practice divination. I will save my people from your hands. And then you will know that I am the Lord’” (Ezekiel 13:22-23).

• The righteous became disheartened by the false prophecies.
• The prophet’s lies brought grief to the people.
• The prophets encouraged the wicked to pursue their evil ways.
• God removed their ability to proclaim visions and practice idolatry.
• God would save His people from the false prophets’ hands.
• And they [all] will know that I am the Lord.

*Who do you think God saved as a remnant in this scene? Why?

*How does God free people from snares and traps of “magic” and evil?

*What do we learn about God’s character in this chapter?

*How do these events help Israel and all who read Ezekiel’s words know that I AM is the Lord? 

 

1. Warren Baker, D.R.E., Eugene Carpenter, Ph.D. The Complete WordStudy Dictionary: Old Testament. (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2003). 334
2. Ibid., 746
3. Ibid., 942
4. Ibid., 507