“Because they have led 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. . . .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.” Ezekiel 13:10-11a, 14.
God hated lies and promised to judge false prophets! God gave Ezekiel a message for the prophets of Israel who were leading the people astray with the peace, safety, and prosperity lie. These prophets were telling the people what they wanted to hear. This allowed the people to go on in idolatry and would surely bring God’s wrath upon the nation.
God likened these lying prophets to painters who whitewashed flimsy walls that were poorly constructed. The walls looked clean and white, but they were unstable. God was going to expose the poor foundation by sending a storm upon the nation that would topple the white-washed walls and bring them down on those who painted them. The crashing walls would destroy those who did such shoddy work or put on a show.
Preachers today can put on a show too. They ‘whitewash’ people’s walls just to get a crowd. They tell them that God wants them rich and if they give some money to the preacher and they will get a hundred times more back. They tell people that God is love and won’t send anyone to hell. Others whitewash the truth about the need for repentance from sin and faith in the blood of Jesus Christ. They offer alternatives that don’t require faith or talking about the cross and the blood! They try to make them feel good and get them in and out without any arousal of conviction. Whitewash is being spread around today on the walls of people who have not repented! These walls are going to crash down when judgment falls! The day of Christ’s return will reveal the foundations and strip off the whitewash!
“Because they have led 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. . . .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.” Ezekiel 13:10-11a, 14.
God hates lies and will judge false prophets! God gave Ezekiel a message for the prophets of Israel who were leading the people astray with the peace, safety, and prosperity lie. These prophets were telling the people what they wanted to hear and brought God’s wrath upon the nation.
God likened these lying prophets to painters who whitewashed flimsy walls that were poorly constructed. The walls looked clean and white, but they were very unstable. God was going to expose the poor foundation by sending a storm upon the nation that would topple the white-washed walls and bring them down on those who painted them.
Preachers can whitewash people’s walls just to get a crowd. They tell them how God wants them rich and all they have to do is to give some money to the preacher. God guarantees that they will get a hundred times more back! They tell people that God is love and won’t send anyone to hell. Others whitewash the truth about the need for repentance from sin and faith in the blood of Jesus Christ. They offer alternatives that don’t require faith or talking about the cross and the blood! Whitewash is being spread around today on the walls of people who have not repented! The day of Christ’s return will reveal the foundations as these walls come crashing down!
Today check your foundation. Are you firmly anchored on the Rock of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior? Have you repented of your sins and idolatry and found grace through the blood of Jesus? Are you hungry for biblical truth? Are you living a life of growing holiness and active witness for our Lord? A day is fast approaching when the foundations will be laid bare and white-washed walls will come crashing down!
God often used illustrated messages with His prophets. Ezekiel was given ten different illustrated messages for the people to help them understand what was going to happen. This time, Ezekiel was to pack up his belongings as if he were going into exile. He was to take everything he owned and put it on his shoulders and go to the wall of the city. There he was to dig through the wall and leave the city at dusk, with his face covered in shame. (Ezekiel 12:1-7) He was to do this in front of all the people of the rebellious house of Israel.
The people had a proverb that was popular in the land during this time of Ezekiel’s and Jeremiah’s prophesy. “The days go by and every vision comes to nothing.” (Ezekiel 12:21) God told Ezekiel to tell the people that that proverb would be eradicated from the land. Every vision and word of true prophetic warning was about to be fulfilled. The vision would not be for the distant future, but would come to pass in their day and time. (Ezekiel 12:26-28)
God sent Ezekiel with these true words from His mouth. He spoke them to the people faithfully, but most just scoffed. They were more interested in the words of the false prophets. (Ezekiel 13:1-12) These false prophets spoke from their own imaginations and yet declared “Hear the word of the Lord.” God called them “foolish” prophets and likened them to “jackals” among the ruins, looking for some dead meat to feed on! They had false visions and lying divinations for the people that soothed them into thinking that God would not judge them. God promised to remove them from Israel and from the record of God’s people!
These false prophets were like a person who whitewashed a flimsy wall to help strengthen it. Another coat of paint made the wall look good, but because it was not on a solid foundation it would surely fall. God sent Ezekiel with a message for these who whitewashed the walls with false prophecy. The wall would fall and destroy the people who listened to them and these false prophets themselves. (Ezekiel 13:13-16)
Have you noticed how God tried so hard to reach His people? Hard words of repentance were and are not popular! Check out your own heart today. Which prophets are you listening to?
“Because they have led 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. . . .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.” Ezekiel 13:10-11a, 14.
God hates lies and will judge false prophets! In this section of Ezekiel, God gives him a message for the prophets of Israel who are leading the people astray with the peace, safety, and prosperity lie. These prophets were telling the people what they wanted to hear. This was allowing the people to go on in idolatry and sin and brought God’s wrath upon the nation.
God likened these lying prophets to painters who whitewashed flimsy walls that were poorly constructed. The walls looked clean and white, but they were very unstable. God was going to expose the poor foundation by sending a storm upon the nation that would topple the white-washed walls and bring them down on those who painted them and those who built on a poor foundation. The crashing walls would destroy those who did such shoddy work and those who tried to make their work just look good.
Lots of people do things for show, even in God’s House. Preachers can put on a show too. They can whitewash people’s walls just to get a crowd. They can tell them how God wants them rich and blessed and all they have to do is to give some money to the preacher and God guarantees that they will get a hundred times more back. They can tell people that God is love and won’t send anyone to hell. They just have to belong to their church or send their money in and God will overlook all their sins. Others whitewash the truth about the need for repentance from sin and faith in the blood of Jesus Christ. They offer alternatives that don’t require faith or talking about the cross and the blood! They try to make them feel good and get them in and out without any arousal of conviction. Whitewash is being spread around today on the walls of people who have not repented! These walls are going to crash down when judgment falls! The day of Christ’s return will reveal the foundations!
Today check your foundation. Are you firmly anchored on the Rock of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior? Have you repented of your sins and idolatry and found grace through the blood of Jesus? Are you hungry for biblical truth and sitting under preaching that gives the whole counsel of God, not just the cream and sugar? A day is fast approaching when the foundations will be laid bare!