A Bad Rep
Read Ezekiel 12:1–17:24
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4. “O people of Israel, these prophets of yours are like jackals digging in the ruins.
5. They have done nothing to repair the breaks in the walls around the nation. They have not helped it to stand firm in battle on the day of the Lord.
6. Instead, they have told lies and made false predictions. They say, ‘This message is from the Lord,’ even though the Lord never sent them. And yet they expect him to fulfill their prophecies!
7. Can your visions be anything but false if you claim, ‘This message is from the Lord,’ when I have not even spoken to you?
8. Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because what you say is false and your visions are a lie, I will stand against you, says the Sovereign Lord.
9. I will raise my fist against all the prophets who see false visions and make lying predictions.” Ezekiel 13:4-9
People who speak for someone else have a responsibility to represent their clients or constituents accurately and adamantly.
It’s no wonder that God was upset with a group of false prophets. These people claimed to represent God, but the messages they gave to the Jews didn’t even come close to representing God’s views. So God sent his appointed representative, Ezekiel, to speak out against them. What God had to say wasn’t comforting news for those who misrepresented him. Check it out.
Also, note the change that lies ahead for God’s people as reported by the true prophet, Ezekiel, because of their choices. It can really make you stop and think.
Anyone can say, “I speak for God.” But who can actually represent him? The desire to draw attention to ourselves, to be liked, and to be seen as an authority can entrap us. This same desire entrapped the false prophets in a quest to gain admirers rather than God’s approval.
Be careful how you represent God’s viewpoint to others. Make sure your message does indeed come from God’s Word and not just from your own opinions or biases. And don’t look to approval from others as proof that you are right. Many people will willingly believe a falsehood if it suits them. Watch carefully what you believe, and be careful in how you represent it to others.
