How do you react to difficult feedback? Do you accept the critique as being for your own good? Or do you write it off, suspecting the messenger of unfair motives? By the time we get to Ezekiel, a lot of hard words have been spoken against Israel. It’s easy to wonder if God had their best interest in mind. The attentive ear will listen to the words of the prophet Ezekiel and hear the note of redemption.

During Ezekiel’s day, the political invasions God promised were starting to become reality. Even so, Israel wasn’t taking the hint. They were asking all the wrong questions. “Our offenses and sins weigh us down, and we are wasting away because of them. How then can we live (v. 10)? Facing strong punishment, they wondered how they would ever recover. Like a person facing bankruptcy due to their poor decisions, or a confiscated driver’s license they wondered, How or when will life go back to normal?

Thankfully the Lord presented the answer right away: Turn! This one word sums up the Lord’s purpose in judgment. His goal was to compel His people to turn from their godless behavior and turn to Him, the source of all joy. Today, we might use the word repent to describe a change of mind that leads to a change of action.

God was not judging Israel because He enjoyed it (v. 11). Rather, He was punishing them because He wanted them to live. To really live meant loving Him above all other things (Deut. 6:4). In the New Testament, God makes the same plea. Jesus says, “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent” (Rev. 3:19).

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