Aholah and Aholibah

Dear class,

Today's readings are taken from Ezekiel 21-23.

In today's reading, we come across an interesting chapter (23) which is a parable about 2 women, Aholah and Aholibah.
The names are telling - basically means "her tent" and "my tent is in her". According to Strongs' this "tent" refers to an idolatrous sanctuary.

The passage leaves no room to speculation as to who the 2 women represented (v.4).
It is interesting to note that the infidelity of Israel went as early as their days in Egypt. (v.3) That's a thousand years before! What a long suffering God is He! From the pattern we have seen, especially prominently in the time of the judges, it seems to suggest that the bondage which the Israelites fell under in Egypt, was as least in part, a consequence of their own infidelity.

It is interesting to note, although it seems that the Northern Kingdom is more "sinful" than the South, if we judge by the kings that ruled, v.11 tells us that the latter was indeed worse! This illustrates again the concept as we've seen earlier in chpt 18 - it does not matter how much "good" one has done; we will still be judged by our current status.
Judah could be demanding, "the Lord is not equal! Why are we compared to our sister who has not a shred of good in her. We at least have the likes of Asa, Hezekiah, Josiah in our midst! How can we be judged worse than Isarel???"
The question is, then why have you fallen IN SPITE of the goodly examples before you??

For us today, it certainly brings to mind 2Pe 2:20-22 and Heb 10:29. This is a stern and sobering warning for us. We, who have committed ourselves to God, who have tasted the graciousness of God should above all remain ever faithful to Him. If we ever harden ourselves yet again, we can expect our punishment to be worse than those outside Christ. Let us NEVER EVER fall into the same ranks as Israel and Judah, but continue steadfastly in our race, helping one another along the way, that we might all finally obtain the crown of life.

The Lord bless our day ahead.

in Him
Paul


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But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. ~ Hebrews 3:13

The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. ~ Ezekiel 18:20