Ezekiel 1 - 4 (27th August) - Sky

Ezekiel 1

Ezekiel is filled with bizarre visions and puzzling revelations. If you dig beneath the relationships with the surface of the book, you’ll find timeless lessons about GOD and his relationship with his people. He’d rather forgive than judge us; remains faithful even if we don’t

GOD reveals his will in many ways, whether its through prophetic words, parables analogies and poetry. In this case, GOD caused Ezekiel to see vivid mental pictures of visions of what HE is going to do.

This “weird” vision was seen as GOD reveals his will. The 4 faces of the creatures were man declared ruler over creation; the lion, “king of beasts”; thx ox, most powerful of the domesticated animals; the eagle, greatest of the birds. It all ended beautifully that “the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And one voice spoke”

Ezekiel 2
Ezekiel was called to the Israelites to be GOD’s speaker among them. This chapter shows words of encouragement and commission.

Ezekiel 3
This chapter shows a very graphic way of saying things. Ezekiel was to preach the words GOD gave him nothing else thus eating the scroll GOD told him shows he could not fulfill GOD’s commission in his own strength, only His.

Once again, GOD’s mercy precedes judgment.
Warning to Israel has been a repetition procedure but as they fail to listen, there be no excuse when judgment comes.

In V11 “this is what the Sovereign LORD says, whether they listen or fail to listen”

Been pondering, how often we obey GOD’s commands knowing the outcome, but what if we don’t know the outcome?
Once again, we won’t know the future, but we can trust.

Ezekiel 4
This is the start of “bizarre behavior” that my first impression was SIAO! But looking deeper, each of these actions and prophecies were designed to make the most forceful impact possible on the people.

Ezekiel was to lie on his left side and to bear their sin for the number of days he did so for the house of Judah and Israel.

The numbers of days are of great significance, a total of 430 days. This was the total number of years the Israelites been enslaved in Egypt.

Although the strange drama of Ezekiel failed to win his audience but the lessons taught are still appropriate for us. We must not underestimate our sin or GOD’s holiness. HE will not be mocked by sin.