The conspiracy of her prophets in her midst is like a roaring lion tearing the prey; they have devoured human lives; they have taken treasure and precious things; they have made many widows in her midst.
Her priests have done violence to my law and have profaned my holy things. They have made no distinction between the holy and the common, neither have they taught the difference between the unclean and the clean, and they have disregarded my Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them.
Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, shedding blood, destroying lives to get dishonest gain.
And her prophets have smeared whitewash for them, seeing false visions and divining lies for them, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD,’ when the LORD has not spoken.
The people of the land have practiced extortion and committed robbery. They have oppressed the poor and needy, and have extorted from the sojourner without justice.
And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none.
Therefore I have poured out my indignation upon them. I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath. I have returned their way upon their heads, declares the Lord GOD.”
“Let someone else do it.” “Not my responsibility.” “I’m too busy with other things in my life. Not now, later.” “I have my own agenda.”
Yes, others may have better skills, could be more prominent, could be better situated, have more opportunities, be doing less important things but God in His seeking someone to speak for Him, to act on His behalf, says,
It is not that God was looking in an unlikely place for someone to do His bidding—prophets, priests, princes, peoples of His Name—each group directly identifying with Him as agreeable to His desires. Yet, ‘I found no one’ willing. The prophets conspired to take advantage of position over ministering as God’s representatives to abuse for self’s sake. 2 The priests have used the Law and the sacred in a way that denied the Lᴏʀᴅ who gave them to draw to Himself and thus profaned His Lordship. 3 The princes who were to lead and protect in God’s name were destroying for personal gain. 4 The prophets have even turned into advocates of joined in the deceit by sanctioning this destruction by justifying as “thus saith the Lᴏʀᴅ’s.” 5 The people of Israel have joined in with crimes as low as oppressing the poor and needy and extorting from newcomers entering into the nation and being deprived of justice. 6
With that backdrop, the Lᴏʀᴅ then turns to Ezekiel explaining His dilemma,
Imagine God seeking among His people—called by His Name—and being unable to find any willing to stand up and work with Him to prevent their own destruction and their fellow citizens! God is upfront not want to destroy but needs someone to turn the nation by interceding for them before. Because of this unwillingness of the Israelites,
“Therefore I have poured out my indignation upon them. I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath. I have returned their way upon their heads, declares the Lord GOD.” 8
Ezekiel is among those suffering the consequences of this wholesale apostasy and God explains that Captivity was not His desire but the result of the desires of prophets, priest, princes and the peoples to go after what they wanted without the Lᴏʀᴅ. It was not the will of God but what God was willing to permit to turn them back to Himself. “The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” 9
Today, how difficult would it be for God to find someone to speak clearly, accurately, willingly and timely, just what is on God’s heart? Do our priorities sometimes get in the way of what is urgent in God’s sight?