**Originally written 6/26/05 from Pelican Bay State Prison SHU, updated today.
In the book of Ezekiel and elsewhere, mostly in the Old Testament, the Lord speaks of turning Israel over to her “lovers” which will see her “nakedness” and thus assault her. Those particular words are weighty and interesting.
God, for His own reasons, elected the people later known as Israelites as His chosen ones whom He loved and made covenant with. God is love so it’s clear that God’s love was able to fully sustain and satisfy Israel but they elected to join as lovers with other nations and “gods” in blatant idolatry. God’s response to this idolatry was to give them over to their lovers (meaning back up and allow them to be with who they wanted) and the inevitable outcome was Israel got burned.
Israel tried to join in a relationship of love/unity when neither they nor their partners had the capacity to fulfill the idea. It is a tragic irony that Israel showed the opposite of love, to the Source of love, in order to try to love others. What they got in return was the opposite of love! This is the 100%guaranteed result anytime anyone, even today, turns from God to try and receive something somewhere else.
The pagans were most concerned with Power, Domination & Control. Israel looked like a great partner but it was because of God’s favor, and only for that reason, they were blessed on all fronts. They exploited their status, be it spiritual, material etc., to attract lovers yet without the Lord their blessings dissolved. When the “covering” and favor of God was lifted their lovers saw them for what they were-regular folks without the control, authority etc they had appeared to have. This inspired the lovers wrath because they felt short changed and played. Imagine you marry a woman only to find out she is a he! I imagine that’s how the pagans felt.
Truth is, we are ALL like Israel sometimes. We try and be who we think we need to in order to get what we want. This is the case in the ‘hood and the suburbs, with toddlers and seniors. All the while God is watching and saying “I know the plans I have for you; plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11). No one else can say that to us with such ability to back it up.
Ever head someone say, “I am really humble.” We love to take credit for who we are or how we are perceived. This can have dangerous consequences. Let the Lord raise you up, and in the process never forget where He brought you from. As Pastor Rick Warren said at the very beginning of The Purpose Driven Life, “it’s not about you”. God wants to bless us because of who He is, not who we are-which takes away the pressure of having to front. Remember, without Him we are ALL just dirt!
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