August 23rd~Can't Have It Both Ways

Ezekiel 24:15-25:17

Jeremiah 34:1-22

Jeremiah 21:1-14

Ezekiel 29:1-16

Ezekiel 30:20-31:18

We heard from both Ezekiel and Jeremiah. The Lord asked Ezekiel to prophesy against His people and the surrounding nations of Ammon, Moab, Edom, Philistia, and Egypt. All of these nations were under God’s judgment and Babylon was His instrument to perform it. Once again, we see the truth that God governs the nations and keeps them accountable. He builds them up and He tears them down.

For example, here was His comment about Assyria, “Because of the magnificence I gave this tree, it was the envy of all the other trees. But, it became proud and arrogant, and because it set itself so high above the others, I handed it over to a mighty nation that destroyed it as its wickedness deserves. I Myself discarded it... Let no other nation proudly exult in its own prosperity, though it be higher than the clouds, for all are doomed. They will end up in the pit along with all the proud people of the world” (Ezekiel 31:9-14).

On the other hand, Jeremiah gave us an inside look at the last days of Judah’s King Zedekiah. Jeremiah told him that he would not escape Nebuchadnezzar, but that he would be taken into captivity and die in Babylon. The King did not like this news, so he sent his officials to beg Jeremiah to ask the Lord to deliver him. “Please ask God to help us,” they asked. “Perhaps the Lord will be gracious and do a mighty miracle as He has done in the past. Perhaps He will force Nebuchadnezzar to withdraw his armies” (21:2).

Of course, the Lord knew that this plea was in- sincere, as Zedekiah had done evil in His sight. It was only a last effort to save his life from the judgment he brought upon himself and the people. The Lord responded, “I Myself will fight against you with great power, for I am very angry! You have made Me furious!” (21:3-5).

Daily Reflection

Are you familiar with the phrase, “You can’t have your cake and eat it too”? This strange saying is an English proverb or figure of speech that means you cannot or should not try to have two incompatible things. For example, you might say that you would like to swim but you can’t get wet, or that you are hungry and would like to eat but don’t like the food offered to you. You can’t have it both ways.

Have you, or someone you know, ever tried to have your cake and eat it too? How so?

How is this proverb true for King Zedekiah?

As I have mentioned before, Zedekiah followed his own passions, fulfilled his own desires, and ignored God’s words and ways; but, when his ways proved to be disastrous, he turned to the Lord in the last minute and begged for help. He couldn’t have his cake and eat it too. He couldn’t have it both ways. It doesn’t work like that.

“Don’t be misled — you cannot mock God. You will harvest what you plant. Those who live to satisfy their sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest life from the Spirit. For we are each responsible for our own conduct” (Galatians 6:5, 7-9).

BiAY.org | Day 235 — 130 Days to Go