SCRIPTURE:
The word of the Lord came to me. “Son of man, there were two women, daughers of the same mother.” The older was named Oholah, and her sister was Oholibah. They were mine...”.
Ezekiel 23:1, 4
OBSERVATION:
Jerusalem and Samaria are represented by two women, born of the same mother, who go on to do every bad thing possible. God punishes them by “returning them to their lewdness and having them bear the penalty for their sinful idolatry”, using them as an example for generations to come.
Let’s say I was given the chance to be born into royalty, hand picked and chosen to live a life of prosperity and fruitfulness. But, while I’ve been given all I need for contentment and joy, I see other options out there and my curiosity rises as to what the world outside of mine has to hold. Instead of continuing my life of privilege, I squander it for a couple of little thrills, risking not only my place of stature, but also the futures of those who will come after me.
These two women disregarded their place and chose instead to seek what the world had to offer rather than what God had promised. In choosing to love the world, they abandoned whatever hope they had of receiving their full inheritance from God, eventually succumbing to the very thing they were chasing after.
APPLICATION:
When my heart is set on things against the things of God, I too can risk falling out of favor, losing the hand of God on my life. While the acts of Oholah & Oholibah are terribly immoral and way out of my league, I am at risk at time of the small compromises. Even the small choices can bring big consequences. Pride, selfishness, impatience, unforgiveness, there’s a long list of things that tends to set my heart on things not Godly.
My PRIDE leads me to seek my glory rather than the Lordʻs, looking at culture to define and inspire me rather than the one Who created creation.
My SELFISHNESS comes from me thinking my way is the best way.
My IMPATIENCE shows me that my grace and compassion is running on empty.
My UNFORGIVENESS will make me hard and intolerable.
In pursing a life of repentance, I need a constant check on what is driving me out of the light. In seeking Christlikeness I need to commit to overcoming my worldly and fleshly desires.
PRAYER:
Jesus, may I not squander what You have set apart as holy. I humbly accept my place as Your child and turn away from what removes me from Your presence. Amen
