Corrupt shepherds devouring their own sheep - it's a jarring image that cuts straight to the heart of spiritual leadership gone wrong. When those entrusted with caring for God's flock instead exploit them for personal gain, they face divine judgment.

Ezekiel chapter 34 delivers this powerful warning through a scathing indictment of Israel's leaders who had abandoned their sacred duty. Rather than strengthening the weak, healing the sick, or seeking the lost, these shepherds were feeding themselves at the expense of their flock. God's response? "I myself will search for my sheep and seek them out." Eleven times God declares what He will personally do to rescue His scattered people.

This ancient message resonates profoundly today as we examine modern church leadership. While many pastors serve faithfully - some barely able to support their families despite full-time ministry - others have transformed spiritual authority into lucrative empires. We share heartbreaking stories of ministers forced to leave ministry because they couldn't feed their children, alongside troubling examples of churches targeting wealthy demographics while abandoning ministries to those with limited financial means.

The episode explores how Jesus's claim to be "the Good Shepherd" directly references this Ezekiel passage, creating a powerful contrast between corrupt leadership and His own sacrificial care. When Jesus spoke these words to the religious authorities of His day, He was making a deliberate connection they couldn't miss - identifying Himself as the fulfillment of God's promise to personally shepherd His people.

Whether you're a church leader, congregation member, or spiritual seeker, this teaching offers wisdom for discerning authentic spiritual guidance from exploitation. Join us as we uncover this often-overlooked passage that challenges us to examine what true shepherding means and reminds us that when human leaders fail, the divine Shepherd remains faithful to His flock.

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God's frustration echoes across millennia in the ending verses of Ezekiel chapter 33: "They come to you as people come and hear your words, but they do not do them." This ancient complaint strikes at the heart of modern faith—our tendency to consume spiritual content without allowing it to transform our daily lives.

The Jewish exiles in Babylon had just received confirmation that Jerusalem had fallen, exactly as Ezekiel prophesied. Vindicated as a true prophet, Ezekiel suddenly found himself popular among the people who gathered eagerly to hear his messages. Yet God reveals their fatal flaw: they treated divine revelation like entertainment—"like a sensual song by one who has a beautiful voice"—appreciated in the moment but forgotten when life's real decisions came calling.

This disconnect between hearing and doing remains our greatest spiritual challenge today. We attend services, listen to sermons, participate in Bible studies, yet when facing workplace dilemmas, relationship conflicts, or financial pressures, we often default to worldly wisdom rather than trusting God's guidance. The Israelites claimed Abraham's promise while ignoring God's commands; similarly, we claim Christian identity while compartmentalizing our faith.

The chapter ending reveals a crucial theological distinction: God's unconditional promises (like the land covenant) stand firm, but experiencing their blessings requires faithful obedience. For Christians today, this mirrors our salvation security through Christ while reminding us that the quality of our spiritual journey depends significantly on our willingness to trust and obey God daily.

Are you sitting before God's Word as an appreciative audience member or as a committed disciple? The difference isn't found in church attendance but in Monday through Saturday decisions that reveal whether we're merely fans of spiritual content or genuine followers transformed by divine truth. Listen again to Ezekiel's ancient warning—it might be the most relevant message you'll hear today.

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You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible

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May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

Have you ever wondered if God truly forgets our sins when we repent? Or questioned whether He's still working with nations as collective entities in our modern world? Ezekiel chapter 33 delivers profound answers to these timeless questions.

The backdrop is dramatic – Jerusalem has fallen to Babylon, and the Jewish exiles are questioning their very survival as a people. "Our transgressions are upon us. How then can we survive?" they ask in desperation. Into this crisis, God speaks through Ezekiel with an unexpected message of hope and restoration.

We unpack the remarkable principle found in verse 16: when someone genuinely repents, "none of his sins that he has committed will be remembered against him." This divine amnesia regarding forgiven sin applies both to individual salvation and national restoration. The passage powerfully refutes the notion that God has permanently rejected Israel, demonstrating instead His consistent pattern of honoring true repentance throughout Scripture.

The chapter also addresses skeptics who claim "God's ways are not right" – a challenge that mirrors modern atheist arguments. Yet as we explore, these critics unwittingly borrow from the very moral framework they attempt to reject. Their inconsistency highlights a profound truth: human standards of justice are flawed, while God's are perfect.

For Christians today, this passage offers practical wisdom about speaking with divine timing. Just as God controlled when Ezekiel could speak and when he must remain silent, believers should be "so attuned to the Word of God that we know when to say things and when to keep our mouths shut." The chapter marks a pivotal transition in Ezekiel's ministry from prophecies of judgment to messages of restoration.

Discover with us how God works through both individuals and nations, and why His promise to remember sins no more represents the greatest hope for humanity. Subscribe now to continue exploring the profound revelations in Ezekiel that remain astonishingly relevant to our modern questions about faith, justice, and divine purpose.

Support the show

Thank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners.

You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible

Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible

May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve