Does God ever close His ears? Does He ever turn us off or tune us out? Does God ever refuse to answer His phone? Does He just let it go to voice mail? Apparently the answer is "yes." In these passages God simply shuts off the inquirers. He's not listening and He's not answering. He maintains radio silence.
If God already knows our thoughts before we ever say them, is it even possible for God not to hear our cries or prayers or questions? It's not that he can't hear them or doesn't know what we're thinking or asking. He simply refuses to engage us. The question is "why?" Why would God refuse not to engage or interact with us?
In the case of Herod in Luke 23, Jesus ignores all Herod's questions because of his motives. Herod really isn't interested in knowing God on a personal level. He's interested in debating, matching wits, coercing Jesus into performing a miracle or giving him a show of His power. Jesus simply ignored Herod's insulate attitude and behavior.
In the Ezekiel passage, God turns His back and refuses to converse with the Jewish leaders because of their rejection of Him in the past. Since they broke their promise to God, God simply said, "You don't want me to be your God, then fine, you're on your own." Since they refused to listen and obey when God revealed Himself in the past, He wasn't going to humor them or play games with them. Ezekiel went on to lay it out for them.
It's interesting to me how many people come looking for God only when they are in the deepest of trouble or they are hoping to muse their curiosity. They choose to live however they want, ignore God, His truths and then want Him to get them out of a jam. They want Him to remove the consequences of their own actions. They virtually ignore Him (even though they might go to church regularly) by their actions and behavior and then wonder why God won't act, why He remains silent. Is it really that hard to figure out?
God, my heart aches when I see the broken lives of these who have ignored you and your word. I know you love them. I know your heart aches as well. Lord, help me to proclaim your word and truths in such a way that men and women can grasp it, be drawn to it, and apply it obediently in their lives. Help me be faithful in all aspects of my life to you through your spirit.
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