And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the LORD have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.
(Ezekiel 14:9) KJV
Context is like cause. Words in isolation are an effect. I have discussed that a symptom of the reprobate mind is the inability to comprehend the necessity of cause, and its relation to effect.
This bleeds over into understanding words in their context. The passage cited, Ezekiel 14:9 is an effect. It has a cause. Within the very same chapter is a statement of the cause. It is a description of cause and effect, you reap what you sow:
Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols;
(Exekiel 14:4) KJV
God didn’t lie to anyone, he established the relationship between cause and effect. If you want to go to a false prophet and be told that everything is going to be alright and there will be no judgment for sin, then there is a prophet who is more than happy to tell you that. The prophet whats your thanks and praise, and that you will tell everyone what a great prophet he is, because he told you what you wanted to hear. It is expressed beautifully by Timothy:
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
(2 Timothy 4:3) KJV
God doesn’t need to lie, there are plenty of people who are more than happy to do that for you. As I frequently state, believing unbelievers because you don’t want to believe is circular reasoning.
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
(Galatians 6:7) KJV
Atheists who search the Bible for errors and inconsistencies will find only that. It is an example of cause and effect as described here. It is not proof that there are any errors or inconsistency. By the same token, if you want to understand the Bible so that the supposed errors and inconsistencies are resolved, you can have that too. This is the power of the Word of God.
Matty (Headwind) 