Ezekiel 14

Ezekiel 14 addresses the issue of idolatry among Israel’s leaders and the consequences of turning away from God. The chapter opens with elders coming to seek God, but God reveals that they have idols in their hearts. God warns that He will judge those who pursue idols, giving examples of how His judgment would come if a nation, including Jerusalem, persists in sin. He emphasizes His justice and mercy, declaring that righteousness cannot be transferred from one person to another. The chapter concludes with a promise to spare the righteous who remain faithful, serving as a stark reminder of both God’s judgment and His faithfulness.

Ezekiel 14:1-5 (NKJV)
1 Now some of the elders of Israel came to me and sat before me.
2 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
3 “Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their hearts, and put before them that which causes them to stumble into iniquity. Should I let Myself be inquired of at all by them?
4 Therefore speak to them, and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Every one of the house of Israel who sets up his idols in his heart and puts before him what causes him to stumble into iniquity, and then comes to the prophet, I the Lord will answer him who comes, according to the multitude of his idols,
5 that I may seize the house of Israel by their heart, because they are all estranged from Me by their idols.”’

God reveals that while the elders outwardly seek guidance, they harbor idols in their hearts, showing divided loyalty. Their internal idolatry prevents a true relationship with God, as He knows their hearts are not fully committed to Him. God warns that He will answer them based on the condition of their hearts, exposing their hypocrisy. By this, God seeks to draw Israel away from idols and back to genuine worship of Him.

Ezekiel 14:6 (NKJV)
6 “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Repent, turn away from your idols, and turn your faces away from all your abominations.

God calls the people to repentance, instructing them to abandon idolatry and detestable practices. This is an invitation for Israel to realign with God, choosing Him over their sinful attachments. Repentance here is depicted as a decisive act, requiring not just physical removal from idols but also a turning of their hearts.

Ezekiel 14:7-8 (NKJV)
7 For anyone of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who dwell in Israel, who separates himself from Me and sets up his idols in his heart and puts before him what causes him to stumble into iniquity, then comes to a prophet to inquire of him concerning Me, I the Lord will answer him by Myself.
8 I will set My face against that man and make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of My people. Then you shall know that I am the Lord.

God declares judgment on anyone who clings to idols while still seeking guidance from Him. Instead of blessing, He will bring punishment, making them examples of divine retribution. This separation from God is presented as a serious offense that leads to being “cut off,” emphasizing that loyalty to God cannot coexist with idolatry.

Ezekiel 14:9-10 (NKJV)
9 And if the prophet is induced to speak anything, I the Lord have induced that prophet, and I will stretch out My hand against him and destroy him from among My people Israel.
10 And they shall bear their iniquity; the punishment of the prophet shall be the same as the punishment of the one who inquired,

False prophets who lead people astray are also subject to God’s judgment. God allows them to speak falsely to expose their intentions, but He holds both the deceivers and the deceived accountable. This highlights that spiritual integrity is required from both leaders and followers, who will both face consequences for rejecting God’s truth.

Ezekiel 14:11 (NKJV)
11 that the house of Israel may no longer stray from Me, nor be profaned anymore with all their transgressions, but that they may be My people and I may be their God,” says the Lord God.’”

God’s ultimate purpose is to restore Israel to a pure relationship with Him, free from idolatry. He desires a covenant relationship where His people honor Him fully, avoiding any behavior that distances them from Him. This vision reveals God’s desire for a faithful, holy community.

Ezekiel 14:12-14 (NKJV)
12 The word of the Lord came again to me, saying:
13 “Son of man, when a land sins against Me by persistent unfaithfulness, I will stretch out My hand against it; I will cut off its supply of bread, send famine on it, and cut off man and beast from it.
14 Even if these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they would deliver only themselves by their righteousness,” says the Lord God.

God warns of consequences for a nation that continually sins, stating that even the righteous would not be able to save others by their merit. By mentioning Noah, Daniel, and Job, He emphasizes that righteousness is personal and non-transferable, underscoring the severity of persistent sin and the personal accountability required in judgment.

Ezekiel 14:15-16 (NKJV)
15 “If I cause wild beasts to pass through the land, and they empty it, and make it so desolate that no man may pass through because of the beasts,
16 even though these three men were in it, as I live,” says the Lord God, “they would deliver neither sons nor daughters; only they would be delivered, and the land would be desolate.

Here, God warns that even severe judgments, like wild beasts ravaging the land, cannot be averted by the righteousness of a few individuals. Only those personally righteous would be spared, reinforcing the message that each person’s relationship with God is what determines their fate.

Ezekiel 14:17-20 (NKJV)
17 “Or if I bring a sword on that land, and say, ‘Sword, go through the land,’ and I cut off man and beast from it,
18 even though these three men were in it, as I live,” says the Lord God, “they would deliver neither sons nor daughters, but only they themselves would be delivered.
19 Or if I send a pestilence into that land and pour out My fury on it in blood, and cut off from it man and beast,
20 even though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as I live,” says the Lord God, “they would deliver neither son nor daughter; they would deliver only themselves by their righteousness.”

God reiterates the principle that the righteousness of others cannot save a sinful nation from judgments like war or pestilence. Even the intercessory power of men like Noah, Daniel, and Job would be ineffective in saving others, underscoring that each person must seek righteousness for themselves to be spared.

Ezekiel 14:21-23 (NKJV)
21 For thus says the Lord God: “How much more it shall be when I send My four severe judgments on Jerusalem—the sword and famine and wild beasts and pestilence—to cut off man and beast from it?
22 Yet behold, there shall be left in it a remnant who will be brought out, both sons and daughters; surely they will come out to you, and you will see their ways and their doings. Then you will be comforted concerning the disaster that I have brought upon Jerusalem, all that I have brought upon it.
23 And they will comfort you, when you see their ways and their doings; and you shall know that I have done nothing without cause that I have done in it,” says the Lord God.

God acknowledges that His judgments will be severe, but He assures Ezekiel that a faithful remnant will survive. These survivors will demonstrate genuine righteousness, offering hope and comfort to others witnessing God’s judgment. This remnant is proof that God’s actions are just, as their behavior will validate that God’s judgment was warranted and aimed at restoring holiness among His people.