#soap # Ezekiel 34 ## Title: When God Steps In ## Scripture: (Ezekiel 34:2) “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy, and say to them—to the shepherds: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who have been feeding themselves! Should not shepherds feed the flock? (NET) ## Observation: Have you ever wondered why God allows bad people to stay in power? I have. I have watched good people hurt by bad shepherds. This does not just happen in the church world. We just don’t expect it to happen around people who are supposed to love Jesus. This is not wise because church people are not holy because they claim to know Jesus. They are made more holy each day by how much they are growing in their relationship with God. This is the same for Christian leaders. They are not holy because they claim to be Christian. If that is so, why does God allow bad people to have power, especially within His church? The answer is complicated and part of the mystery of God’s wisdom. What we do know is God does not allow them to get away with it forever. Perhaps what we are seeing is a season of God’s mercy. If people do not get it right, eventually God brings judgment. Therefore, we trust Him in all things. ## Application: Trust that the Lord will straighten things out in the end. ## Prayer: Thank You, Jesus, for being trustworthy to fix all wrongs. If not now, You will in eternity.