Today we will discuss the book of Ezekiel, chapter 7, and the imagery of judgement, condemnation and the calling that comes out of this text.
One of the most common criticisms of the Christian faith, levied by 1st world skeptics, is the idea that the God of the old testament is too harsh, judgemental and angry.
In Ezekiel we see that judgement, but the question remains: Is God "too" harsh?
Is God Good or Evil?
In Ezekiel we see God telling his prophet of the coming judgement, and it sounds terrible! The book foretells starvation, death, cannibalism, and worse still, that despite God's mission for Ezekiel to prophesy these events, that no one will listen or heed his warning.
So apparently these pains cannot be avoided, does that make God malevolent or evil?
Furthermore, God explains to Ezekiel that he will bring this suffering upon the Jews, so that they might be humbled and brought low, driving repentance from their wicked nature. God says: "8 Now I will soon pour out my wrath upon you, and spend my anger against you, and judge you according to your ways, and I will punish you for all your abominations. 9 And my eye will not spare, nor will I have pity. I will punish you according to your ways, while your abominations are in your midst..." (Ezekiel 7:8-9).
God has had enough, and he says we have profaned his name, turned our backs on him, and committed abominations that he cannot endure. He will send destruction in the form of famine, pestilence and the sword and even those who survive "...will be on the mountains, like doves of the valleys, all of them moaning, each one over his iniquity".
Certainly, the imagery is dark, and the judgement is obvious, but is it unfair?
Is God's Judgement EVER Unfair?
First off, if the God of the bible is real is it even possible for him to be "unfair"? Clearly, I think no, but lets unpack that. If the God of the bible is real, then in him we have an all wise, all powerful, all knowing, creator God, who paints beauty, joy and morality into existence. If this God is real, then how can he as the source of all wisdom be "unfair", or "unreasonable", or "unrighteous"? The answer is, he cannot.
The Christian God either does not exist at all, or otherwise is perfect, complete and glorious in every way and for all time.
If he were evil or hateful, why would he let us have joy at all? The love of a wife or husband, or let us enjoy the laughter of a child? Even the beauty of artwork, music or nature point to his love and gracious mercy. If he is creator of all things, as the bible says, are these not gifts from our creator? Certainly, if he is real, these are gifts, and if our Father in heaven gives good gifts how can we reconcile those good gifts with the allegations of his being unfair, harsh or evil? The two are not compatible, and yet he does give good gifts, so he must not be evil.
So why then does he bring suffering upon these people?
This question begets another, is all suffering wholly evil? Clearly not, we can learn from pain, loss and trial. We can be made stronger from adversity and challenge.
1 Peter 5:10 English Standard Version (ESV)
10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
James 1:2-4 English Standard Version (ESV)
Testing of Your Faith
2 Count it all joy, my brothers,[a] when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Romans 8:28 English Standard Version (ESV)
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,[a] for those who are called according to his purpose.
Psalm 34:19 English Standard Version (ESV)
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
So how then do we explain the suffering God has brought down upon the Jews in Ezekiel? How can reconcile their suffering with the idea of fairness? ...must we?
Are we God, that we should judge God? As God said to Job
Job 38-41 English Standard Version (ESV)
The Lord Answers Job
38 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:
2 “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?
3 Dress for action[a] like a man;
I will question you, and you make it known to me.
4 “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
Tell me, if you have understanding.
5 Who determined its measurements—surely you know!
Or who stretched the line upon it?
6 On what were its bases sunk,
or who laid its cornerstone,
7 when the morning stars sang together
and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
God is not Unfair: We are proud, disobedient children!
As my uncle often says, if you look and find you are far from God, its not hard to guess who moved. We flee from his ways, from his presence, from his love, and we seek after fame, fortune, and the deity of self, and then when we offend and provoke his righteous anger, we ask with foolish surprise and proud condemnation, "He is unfair", "He is harsh!"
Is this any different than Adam in the garden, always blaming others for our own failures?
Genesis 3:12 English Standard Version (ESV)
12 The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.”
So who IS to blame?
Did God make the Jewish people deny his law? No.
Did God make the Jewish people profane his holy places? No.
Did God force the Jews to behave worse than the neighboring non-believers? No!
In Ezekiel the picture is very clear, mankind fell away from the Lord, and their actions and deeds required that our perfectly righteous God, respond. That response was difficult, and it cost many man and women their lives, but if the bible is to true, then he is working glory from even this. Moving the world closer to himself, through even our own failure and disobedience, so that those who were chosen by Him, might be reconciled with Him through His salvation, grace and mercy.
Despite our best efforts to push him away, he is for us...
We, like the Jews before us, act against his rules, worse than non-believers, and when we do, is he WRONG to judge us? No.
If our God is unfair, it is because he is too gracious. If our God is unreasonable, it is because he is too patient. Yes, he brings righteous judgement and but as we have read above, and as we may know from personal experience, we are remade through difficulty, by his hand that new creation is more beautiful that the old that dies away.
God made man with free will, and man uses that gift as we see fit, either we honour and serve God or not. As C.S. Lewis famously said, God saw fit to make free men, not toy soldiers, and as free men, we can choose either evil or good, hate or love, Satan or God. And it's not one choice, one moment, one special prayer that makes us good, no. Rather, every day, in a million little ways we choose to either become more like God or like the devil.
Conclusion:
So, is God "too harsh"? This proposal is foolishness. Clearly, if God exists, his way is the right way, his plan is the best, and his judgement is perfect, fair, appropriate and even loving.
So, no God is not too harsh. The real question is, do you trust God, even in his judgement? You should. I do.
We are Free: Choose Wisely
“There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, "Thy will be done," and those to whom God says, in the end, "Thy will be done." All that are in Hell, choose it. Without that self-choice there could be no Hell. No soul that seriously and constantly desires joy will ever miss it. Those who seek find. Those who knock it is opened.”
― C.S. Lewis, The Great Divorce
Prayer:
Lord help us to see your loving hand over all things, including our challenges, and to the extent that we distrust you, and run from your law, help us God. Burn away the sinful pride and brokenness that holds us back from knowing you more fully. We need your Spirit to lead us God, so that we might become the men and women that you have called us to be.
Thank you, Lord, that you invite us to walk with you in the cool of the garden, help us to see that invitation for what it is, amazing grace.