"God, You're Wrong!"

In biblical times, a watchman stood “... at the place in the city where he has the most strategic view of the surroundings and watches for any approaching enemy army. He either reports by word of mouth or by trumpet. His task is simply to sound the alarm of the approaching enemy” (NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible). God is calling the prophet Ezekiel to be a watchman to God’s people in a spiritual sense (Ezekiel 33:7). The Lord was bringing judgment due to the sins of the people and Ezekiel’s job was to warn them so they would repent and turn back to God.

But some in Israel had apparently decided they were beyond hope. “Surely our transgressions and our sins are upon us, and we are rotting away in them; how then can we survive?” (Ezekiel 33:10). God dispels that myth by having the prophet tell them: “I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why then will you die, O house of Israel?” (Ezekiel 33:11). The wicked are not fated to die in their wickedness. If the wicked turn from sin and practice justice and righteousness, they will live (Ezekiel 33:14-16).

But even that promise was not good enough for some. “Yet your fellow citizens say, ‘The way of the Lord is not right,’ when it is their own way that is not right” (Ezekiel 33:17). Imagine having the audacity to claim that God is wrong! Who do these Israelites think they are anyway? If you have ever wondered how far sin can take you when you let it, this is a prime example. “God, you’re wrong and I’m right.” Wow!

God entertains no challengers in this debate. He plainly tells them they are the wrong ones, not Him. There is no hand-holding, no sympathizing, no “...well I can see where you are coming from…” God is always right, no matter what we may think or feel.

God loves you!

Mike