Read: Ezekiel 23:1-49; Hebrews 10:18-39; Psalm 109:1-31; Proverbs 27:13
God uses a very graphic allegory of two sisters, Oholah and Oholibah from the same mother. Ohola which means “idolatrous sanctuary” refers to Samaria, the capital of Israel. Samaria was the center of their idolatrous worship. Oholibah means “my tent is within her” referring to Jerusalem in Judah. Israel and Judah were both from the same mother: Sarah. They both chose to prostitute themselves with the idols of the nations around them and when they needed help they went to them instead of to God. Their foreign lovers were about to turn on them and become their bitter enemies.
Israel had been the first to fall. They had trusted in Egypt and adopted their gods so they would be attacked and taken captive by the same people. Judah had done the same with Babylon so they would take them captive.
In the Old Testament the enemies were physical but they stood for spiritual forces. This is how the enemy works: if we trust in them they will take us captive and become our enemy. Paul says it so well in Romans 6:16. “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?”
All of God’s judgements against them were so that they would know that He was the Sovereign and Only God. God’s greatest desire is that we know him.
Hebrews explains that if a person is told of Christ’s sacrifice for their sins and resurrection life and doesn’t choose it but continues to walk in sin, there is no hope for them. Jesus is the only way to salvation.
God encourages us to keep walking in trust and faith even in the midst of persecution and trials because we won’t be disappointed in the end. We will be richly rewarded!
Lord, thank you for your rewards and your promises. We long to know you as you long to be known. Open our eyes to your messages you send us and our ears to your voice.
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