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Guest speaker Drew continued leading us through Ezekiel. He had a
handout, and we learned about "sign-acts". I made some notes from the
meeting, and then included my notes from the reading of the scripture.
We look forward to next week with Drew.
God's message - Ezekiel a watchman for Israel. He is to relay the
warnings he hears from God to them. This is the charge given to all
prophets. God emphasizes the importance of obedience in following His
call. If Ezekiel warns and they ignore then the consequences are on
those that ignored the warning. if Ezekiel doesn't share the warning,
then he is responsible for the consequences. This is a truly fearful
passage as to the responsibility we have to share what God has given us.
What if it turns out badly? Its a faith opportunity, how big is God
compared to our circumstances? Is He able to deliver us?- we say it all
the time. God's warnings are a matter of life and death. Its true He
wants relationship with all people, but He has the standard of Holiness.
God wanted to further speak to him so He sent him out to the plain (away from distractions? - prayer closet- of sorts?). The spirit entered him (Holy Spirit) Go home and remain silent - tied up at home. He'll see the wrong people are doing but will not be able to speak until the time is ripe. God will at that time free his tongue to share the message. What marvelous comfort for those of us who struggle with whether we should warn people of their poor choices or not. He (God) will free our tongue to warn people when the time is right, and He wants us to. Its not something of our own strength but God working through us (Holy Spirit). In the meantime our life of obedience is always a witness to the things of God. The more fearful question may be - Would your actions warrant a conviction in a court to the accusation of being a Christian? Does God now really make a difference in your life, are you His people set apart or distinct from those who are not?
God puts His message out there (through His obedient servants), the people out there can listen or not whichever they like- sounds like free will.
Ezekiel 4
"Sign-acts" act out what God is saying. In this chapter Ezekiel provides a visual of the siege of Jerusalem. Using a brick to represent Jerusalem. There is strong evidence that some people are "visual" learners, and here we are 2700 years ago God providing to those people something other than words to bring about His message. God already knew what we let people "study".
Now we have a Jesus glimpse, Ezekiel is told to lie on his side and take the sins of the people on himself. He is to bear the sin of Israel for 390 days and the sins of Judah - on his other side for 40 days. He will have a minimal diet and minimal water (just like those in Judah and Israel will experience in exile). He is on his side one day for each year of sin. To survive they will have to eat unclean food, relationship and obedience to God is the important point, not foods consumed. In Hebrews 4:14-16 Paul says our High Priest (Jesus) knows of our sufferings, He has been there. Ezekiel also has experienced the pain. God knows our struggles.
During the siege there will be famine, God warned them. Its up to them to listen or not.
Ezekiel 5
Another action (visual or sign act) acting out what will happen after the siege. The people of Jerusalem are represented by Ezekiel's hair which he was asked to cut off. One third of them will be burned up in the city (people), another third will be killed by the sword (chopped up), the last third will be thrown to the wind (escape) but will be chased by the sword. God said it, it will happen, and it did, He has standards and we make choices, and our choices will have consequences in His creation. A few hairs are protected and thrown in the fire, this fire will spread to the whole family of Israel.
Why would God do this? Isn't He a God of Love, who doesn't keep records of wrongs? He doesn't keep a record of wrongs for those who repent and allow Him to change them. If however you choose to do your own thing His patience may end. There is no contradiction here. We ourselves are more ready to forgive those who realize they have hurt us, rather than those that don't care that they did, but then again we are made in the image of God. God explains why He is letting Jerusalem be destroyed.
Jerusalem was placed by God to be an example for the world. His people also were to be an example, but with their free will they chose not to be. They rebelled against Him and ignored Him (or tried to). So He will use them as an example to the world of what happens when the creation denies the creator. His desire was for their good, but His plan is completed, they were an example for the world. Their choices and trying to survive will lead to cannibalism, something they never considered to be the result of their actions I'm sure. What are the results of your actions and choices if they don't include God? Do you choose to ignore Him, and then expect Him to protect you from the consequences of your unrepentant choices?
The hair was the visual, now a plain word explanation. A third of Jerusalem's people will die of famine and disease, a third will be killed by the invaders outside the city, and a third will escape but be on the run the rest of their lives. God is jealous and denying Him is really putting something else before Him. He will allow His Temple to be destroyed, Jerusalem will be that example for the world, and even though it is in what we might consider a bad way, it will be clear that God sent it.
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