**The Story of the Elders and the Prophet Ezekiel**
In the days when the people of Israel were exiled in Babylon, the prophet Ezekiel dwelt among them, a man chosen by the Lord to speak His words and reveal His judgments. The exiles lived in a land far from their home, their hearts heavy with sorrow and confusion. Many had turned to idols, their faith shaken by the trials of captivity. Yet, even in their rebellion, some sought the Lord—or so they claimed.
One day, a group of elders came to Ezekiel, seeking to inquire of the Lord. They sat before him, their faces solemn, their robes dusty from the journey. These were men of influence, leaders among the exiles, and they came with questions they hoped the prophet could answer. But the Lord, who sees the heart, knew their true intentions.
As Ezekiel sat in his humble dwelling, the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and the voice of the Almighty spoke: “Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and placed stumbling blocks of iniquity before their faces. Should I let them inquire of Me at all?”
Ezekiel’s heart trembled at the words of the Lord. He knew the elders were not sincere. They carried the weight of their secret sins, their hearts divided between the Lord and the idols they secretly worshipped. The Lord continued, “Therefore speak to them and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: Any man of the house of Israel who sets up idols in his heart and puts a stumbling block of iniquity before his face and then comes to the prophet, I the Lord will answer him according to the multitude of his idols.'”
The prophet’s voice grew firm as he delivered the message to the elders. “Thus says the Lord: Repent! Turn away from your idols, and forsake all your abominations. For the Lord will not answer those who come to Him with deceit in their hearts. He will answer according to the idols they cling to, that they may be caught in their own snare.”
The elders shifted uncomfortably, their eyes avoiding Ezekiel’s piercing gaze. They had hoped to receive a favorable word from the Lord, but now they were confronted with the truth of their own hypocrisy. The Lord’s judgment was clear: those who worship idols in their hearts cannot expect His favor.
Ezekiel continued, his voice filled with the authority of the Lord: “If a prophet is deceived and speaks a word, I the Lord have deceived that prophet. I will stretch out My hand against him and destroy him from among My people Israel. Both the prophet and the one who seeks his counsel will bear their guilt, for they have turned away from the Lord to follow their own desires.”
The room fell silent as the weight of the Lord’s words settled upon the elders. They had come seeking answers, but now they stood condemned by their own actions. Ezekiel’s heart ached for them, for he knew the Lord’s desire was not to destroy but to bring repentance and restoration.
The Lord spoke again to Ezekiel, revealing a deeper truth: “Son of man, if a land sins against Me by persistent unfaithfulness, I will stretch out My hand against it. I will cut off its supply of bread, send famine upon it, and destroy both man and beast. Even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in that land, they could only deliver themselves by their righteousness. They could not save the land, for the sins of the people would demand judgment.”
Ezekiel’s mind raced as he considered the gravity of the Lord’s words. Noah, a man of righteousness who saved his family from the flood; Daniel, a man of unwavering faith in the midst of a pagan kingdom; Job, a man who endured unimaginable suffering yet remained faithful—these men could not save a nation bent on rebellion. The Lord’s justice was unyielding, and His holiness demanded accountability.
The prophet turned to the elders once more, his voice filled with urgency. “Thus says the Lord: When I bring the sword, famine, wild beasts, or plague upon a land, and the people repent and turn from their sins, I will relent and not bring the disaster. But if the righteous turn from their righteousness and commit iniquity, they will not be saved by their former deeds. Their righteousness will be forgotten, and they will perish in their sin.”
The elders bowed their heads, their hearts heavy with conviction. They had come seeking answers, but they left with a call to repentance. Ezekiel watched as they departed, his soul burdened for his people. He knew the Lord’s judgment was near, but he also knew His mercy was great. If the people would turn from their idols and seek the Lord with all their hearts, there was still hope.
As the sun set over the plains of Babylon, Ezekiel knelt in prayer, interceding for his people. He prayed that the elders would heed the Lord’s warning, that the exiles would turn from their sins, and that the Lord’s mercy would prevail. For though the Lord is just, He is also compassionate, and His desire is always for His people to return to Him.
And so, the prophet Ezekiel continued to proclaim the word of the Lord, a voice crying out in the wilderness of exile, calling the people to repentance and pointing them to the hope of restoration. For the Lord is faithful, and His promises endure forever.
