Anxiety, Fear and Worry (For What Reason?) - Ezekiel 7-12

Ezekiel 12:17-20 (ESV)

And the word of the LORD came to me: “Son of man, eat your bread with quaking, and drink water with trembling and with anxiety. And say to the people of the land, Thus says the Lord GOD concerning the inhabitants of Jerusalem in the land of Israel: They shall eat their bread with anxiety, and drink water in dismay. In this way her land will be stripped of all it contains, on account of the violence of all those who dwell in it. And the inhabited cities shall be laid waste, and the land shall become a desolation; and you shall know that I am the LORD.”

After reading the above lines, read this imperative from the pen of Paul to the church at Philippi:

Philippians 4:6 (ESV)

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

These two passage might be difficult to square if we don’t study God’s Word in context.   Paul is telling the Philippians to honor God by trusting His Word and His promises.  Ezekiel is telling the rebellious nation of Israel to tremble at His Word and His promises to destroy them for their disobedience.  Each of the two groups are to obey God’s Word. One, because God promises to meet their every need (the church) and one who is living in disobedience and God promises to discipline (the nation).  One is to have no worries in this life and the other is to worry and fear the wrath of God that is coming upon them.   The feelings of worry, anxiety and fear are natural emotions all of mankind experiences.   They are not the issue.  It is the reason for the feelings of worry, anxiety and fear that matters.   We are to make sure that we honor God’s Word and the emotions that follow are part of that.   We are not to be dictated by those emotions.   The nation of Israel followed their emotions.  They didn’t listen to God’s Word.   They did what their feelings told them to do.   In the above passage God is telling Ezekiel to fear God for the wrath He is about to poor out on the nation.   The anxiety that Ezekiel feels is natural and part of how God built us.   When we worry and are anxious is it because we are obeying God’s Word or because we are disobeying God’s Word?  When we are anxious and worry is it because we broke a promise of God’s Word or because we are trusting in a promise of God’s Word?   Worry and anxiety can cripple our walk in life.  But only if it is caused for the wrong reasons.