Getting to the End of God's Patience

Israel experienced centuries-long idolatry and cyclical obedience to God. But eventually, the end of God's grace came upon them. Ezekiel 7 picks up on that very word, "End" by repeating it several times in the early part of the chapter. 

Ezekiel 7:1–2 (ESV) The word of the LORD came to me: 2 “And you, O son of man, thus says the Lord GOD to the land of Israel: An end! The end has come upon the four corners of the land.

Ezekiel 7:5–6 (ESV) “Thus says the Lord GOD: Disaster after disaster! Behold, it comes. 6 An end has come; the end has come; it has awakened against you. Behold, it comes.

There comes a time when God's grace ceases to overlook sin and starts to deal with sin in tangible "ends" for people in hard-hearted rebellion. For Israel, the end of their time in the land had finally come. They first welcomed sin into the land from the idolatrous practices of the other nations. Now the Lord would remove them from that land for a season of discipline. 

The end of God's patience will come one day upon all. Let us not forget that. Some will look at the wicked "getting away with sin" and think God isn't doing anything about it so it must be fine. No. The end will come. And because God is slow to anger, we may mistake it as apathy toward sin. He is not apathetic. He is watching closely, patiently seeking repentance. But when there's none, the end will come.

For Israel, it was the end of their business dealings:

Ezekiel 7:13 (ESV) For the seller shall not return to what he has sold, while they live. For the vision concerns all their multitude; it shall not turn back; and because of his iniquity, none can maintain his life.

It was the end of their military strength:

Ezekiel 7:14 (ESV) “They have blown the trumpet and made everything ready, but none goes to battle, for my wrath is upon all their multitude.

It was the end of their prosperity:

Ezekiel 7:19 (ESV) They cast their silver into the streets, and their gold is like an unclean thing. Their silver and gold are not able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the LORD. They cannot satisfy their hunger or fill their stomachs with it. For it was the stumbling block of their iniquity.

It was the end of their sovereignty as a nation:

Ezekiel 7:24 (ESV) I will bring the worst of the nations to take possession of their houses. I will put an end to the pride of the strong, and their holy places shall be profaned.

It was the end of their religious pretense:

Ezekiel 7:26 (ESV) Disaster comes upon disaster; rumor follows rumor. They seek a vision from the prophet, while the law perishes from the priest and counsel from the elders.

A note about the religious nature of this failing nation. Ezekiel stipulates they sought after visions, but they did not seek the Law of God, for the priests and elders let it die in their lives. You know your church is dying when "visions" are sought over the Word of God. 

Finally, it was the end of their monarchy: 

Ezekiel 7:27 (ESV) The king mourns, the prince is wrapped in despair, and the hands of the people of the land are paralyzed by terror. According to their way I will do to them, and according to their judgments I will judge them, and they shall know that I am the LORD.”

The picture of this end is important. It's a picture of where idolatry leads. We may be tempted to seek after business success, strength, riches, religious honor, and our own sovereignty as individuals and then use idols to gain them. Those idols can promise much but never deliver completely. God brings them to an end. And for that, we should be thankful. For at the end of our idolatry is the opportunity to turn our eyes toward Him and KNOW that HE is the LORD.