Ezekiel 12 Coming Exile
Ezekiel’s siege time is over. God gives him a new assignment concerning the coming exile of Jerusalem. He gets to play the exile.
Ezekiel gets to do a lot of demonstrative prophecies. I don’t know how much time has passed between the ‘siege works’, the Jerusalem prophecy and today’s prophecies. Needless to say, the time is getting short. Jerusalem is going to fall in around two more years. Jerusalem may already be under their final siege by now, as it lasted about 30 months.
I find it interesting that God is having Ezekiel do his drama for the exiles. Were they hoping that Jerusalem would rise up, push back the Babylonians, and rescue them? Jehoiachin surrendered to Nebuchadnezzar. But were the exiles putting their hope in who followed him? WRONG source for salvation!
Let’s rejoin Ezekiel and the exiles as God tells them without equivocation that Jerusalem WILL fall. Holy Spirit, lead this journey today. You have already opened my eyes to one truth in this story. I look forward to hearing what else You have for me to learn; and pass on.
♥ ♦ ♥
Ezekiel is having a quiet week. He has finished the days of judgment for both Israel and Judah. His has completed the acts requiring his hair. Now, he quietly waits for whatever God has for him next.
Some of the people are still talking about the actions of Ezekiel. They are not sure what to think about him. Only a handful of the exiles truly clings to the words of prophecy Ezekiel has shared with them. Most look at his actions as symbols for some time FAR in the future.
“We don’t need to worry about what he says. Jerusalem will NEVER fall. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised to see our army marching in here any day and liberating us!”
Ezekiel hears their words and shakes his head. He knows the truth. God has shown him. Jerusalem isn’t falling under Nebuchadnezzar’s hand, but under God’s. God is using Nebuchadnezzar as His instrument of punishment. NOTHING can stand against God’s hand.
As evening falls on the land, Ezekiel hears the voice of the Lord.
“Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, who have eyes to see, but see not, who have ears to hear, but hear not, for they are a rebellious house. As for you, son of man, prepare for yourself an exile’s baggage, and go into exile by day in their sight. You shall go like an exile from your place to another place in their sight. Perhaps they will understand, though they are a rebellious house. You shall bring out your baggage by day in their sight, as baggage for exile, and you shall go out yourself at evening in their sight, as those do who must go into exile. In their sight dig through the wall, and bring your baggage out through it. In their sight you shall lift the baggage upon your shoulder and carry it out at dusk. You shall cover your face that you may not see the land, for I have made you a sign for the house of Israel” (Ezekiel 12:2-6).
Ezekiel is ready for another task. He prays that the people will listen this time. As he climbs in bed, he expects to be tossing and turning all night, thinking about what is to come in the morning. But he doesn’t. God gives Ezekiel a very restful night and he rises with the first light.
After breakfast, Ezekiel begins gathering the things he will need for his ‘exile baggage’. These are things that would be grabbed in a hurry by someone being dragged from their home for exile. First is a lamp. Second is a plate. Next is a sleeping mat. And, finally, is a waterskin. The bare essentials. They are the same things that Ezekiel carried with him when he was taken into exile.
It doesn’t take long to gather these items, but Ezekiel waits a little while before beginning his visual prophecy. He wants the streets to be full of people when he begins. That way, more of the people will see God’s words in action.
Two hours after daybreak, Ezekiel begins his demonstration. Ezekiel takes his bundle outside his door. He places it on the path in front of his house, but still within the walls of his garden. He unties the bundle so that its contents can be clearly seen.
Ezekiel waits beside his bundle all day. The only time he steps away from it is to relieve his bladder. He looks out at the people who pass by and notices how many of them stop and take notice. Many ask him questions, but he does not answer them. He has not been told to speak; only to act.
As the sun sinks in the west, Ezekiel reties his bundle and goes to his garden wall. Instead of going through the gate, Ezekiel digs with his bare hands into the wall. It takes a while, but he makes a hole big enough for him and his baggage to pass through it. Ezekiel crouches low and slips through the wall. Once through, he picks up his bundle and puts it on his back. Ezekiel covers his face with his hand, then starts walking. God didn’t give him a destination, so he decides that he will simply circle the city.
There is a good-sized group in the street when Ezekiel emerges through the hole he dug. They stand watching as Ezekiel prepares for his ‘journey’. Many of them fall in line as he walks around the city. Because his face is covered, Ezekiel has to feel his way at times.
Ezekiel finds a place to spend the night when the sun has fully set. He spreads his mat and lies down on it. He keeps his face covered with his hand while readying for sleep. Ezekiel still ignores the questions shouted at him by those who surround him.
Once Ezekiel curls up on his mat for the night, the observers call it a night. A few spread their cloaks near the place where Ezekiel is resting, but most return to their homes.
Ezekiel enjoys another good night’s rest. He is awakened by the voice of the Lord as the sun is just beginning to chase away the darkness.
“Son of man, has not the house of Israel, the rebellious house, said to you, ‘What are you doing?’ Say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: This oracle concerns the prince in Jerusalem and all the house of Israel who are in it.’ Say, ‘I am a sign for you: as I have done, so shall it be done to them. They shall go into exile, into captivity.’ And the prince who is among them shall lift his baggage upon his shoulder at dusk, and shall go out. They shall dig through the wall to bring him out through it. He shall cover his face, that he may not see the land with his eyes. And I will spread my net over him, and he shall be taken in my snare. And I will bring him to Babylon, the land of the Chaldeans, yet he shall not see it, and he shall die there. And I will scatter toward every wind all who are around him, his helpers and all his troops, and I will unsheathe the sword after them. And they shall know that I am the Lord, when I disperse them among the nations and scatter them among the countries. But I will let a few of them escape from the sword, from famine and pestilence, that they may declare all their abominations among the nations where they go, and may know that I am the Lord” (Ezekiel 12:9-16).
“Finally, it is time to speak” thinks Ezekiel.
Right on cue, those around him begin to ask questions and many who had gone home for the evening return. Ezekiel shares everything that the Lord gave him to say. He wants to go farther and explain to the people that their army is NOT coming to rescue them, but he doesn’t. He sticks with the words God gave him.
The people stop clamoring for answers and God speaks to Ezekiel again.
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” (Ezekiel 12:18-20).
Ezekiel stands up, stretches, and rolls up his mat. Then he goes to the nearby market place and buys bread for himself. He needs this for his next demonstration. After paying for his purchase, Ezekiel returns to the place he spent the night. He sets his bedroll down and sits on it. Then he takes out his water skin and sets it beside him.
While Ezekiel was in the market, several of those following him also make purchases for their morning meal. They follow Ezekiel as he returns to his place. They sit on the ground near him, ready for their own morning meal.
Ezekiel brings out his bread and begins tearing it in pieces. As he tears it, his hands visibly shake. He has trouble holding onto the bread and drops it several times. He shakily brings bits of his bread to his mouth. After he had eaten a few morsels of bread, he picks up his waterskin. His hands shake as he tires to remove the cork. Once the cork is out, Ezekiel brings it to his mouth with trembling hands; spilling a fair amount of his water with the effort.
Those around Ezekiel are alarmed by his trembling.
“Are you ill, my lord?”
“Why are your trembling?”
“What is happening to you?”
These are just a few of the questions that make their way around the group as Ezekiel continues his demonstration.
Ezekiel answers each question with the words of the Lord and nothing more. Ezekiel continues the trembling behavior throughout his meal. Once he has finished the last morsel of his meal, he takes a deep breath and steadies himself.
There is a group observing Ezekiel who are NOT impressed with this demonstration. They stand with their arms tightly crossed across their chests. They whisper to one another, shake their heads, and scowl at Ezekiel.
Ezekiel is ignoring them completely, but God isn’t. He hears what they are saying among themselves. And He addresses it. He speaks again to Ezekiel.
“Son of man, what is this proverb that you have about the land of Israel, saying, ‘The days grow long, and every vision comes to nothing’? Tell them therefore, ‘Thus says the Lord God: I will put an end to this proverb, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel.’ But say to them, The days are near, and the fulfillment of every vision. For there shall be no more any false vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel. For I am the Lord; I will speak the word that I will speak, and it will be performed. It will no longer be delayed, but in your days, O rebellious house, I will speak the word and perform it, declares the Lord God” (Ezekiel 12:22-25).
Ezekiel turns his head to the group who is whispering. “The Lord has heard what you are saying. And this is what HE has to say to you.” He addresses them directly with the words of God.
No sooner had Ezekiel finished speaking the word of the Lord then He speaks to him again.
“Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, ‘The vision that he sees is for many days from now, and he prophesies of times far off.’ Therefore say to them, Thus says the Lord God: None of my words will be delayed any longer, but the word that I speak will be performed, declares the Lord God” (Ezekiel 12:26-28).
Ezekiel knows instantly that these words came from the very group he is addressing. They must have been whispered while he was still giving them the Lord’s words. He holds nothing back now.
Ezekiel rises to his feet and stares directly into this dissenting group. “The Lord has heard your words again. The words that say that His prophecies are for a far-off time. THIS is His answer to you on the matter.”
As Ezekiel declares the words of the Lord, the people in the group begin to tremble. They KNOW that God has heard their grumblings, not once, but twice! They are afraid to make any more remarks. With their eyes darting about for any danger, and their hands trembling in fear, the break up and go about their day.
Those who are sitting near Ezekiel have also heard the words of the Lord. Their hearts are more certain of the words of Ezekiel than ever before. They will carry the Lord’s words in their hearts for days to come.
After the group has dispersed, Ezekiel retrieves his ‘exile baggage’ from the ground and returns to his home.
(to be continued)
God hears our hearts! God knows the skepticism of the people. He knows those that are leading the people astray. We will see Him deal with them next time. But those who are watching Ezekiel now, need straightened out. I can’t guarantee that this all happened at the same time, but it feels like it belongs together.
We have prophecies for our time too. Some are saying that they will happen right away, others that they are still a long way off. God didn’t give us a date stamp on His prophecies, but we can be CERTAIN that ALL that He says WILL come to pass. If ever in doubt, look back over the ones He has already brought to pass. Even the prophecy we looked at today is so specific that no way ANYONE but God could have brought it about. I’m speaking specifically of the exile enactment. When Jerusalem fell, they dug their way out to escape. The king was seized and brought to Babylon, but he never ‘saw’ the land. His eyes were gouged out after watching his sons be put to death.
ONLY GOD.
Father God, I KNOW that EVERY prophecy and word You have uttered WILL come to pass. I have NO doubts. You have given me proof throughout time, proving that I can trust You. And this means that I can trust all Your prophecies and promises yet to come. Chief among them is my eternal life with You. I can ‘pick out the curtains’ for my home with You for I am THAT certain of Your promise.
I KNOW that my eternal life with You is NOT something I earned on my own. It is through Jesus’ blood that I have been made family. Through faith in ALL He did for me, as well as for ALL of mankind, and surrendering my life to Him. JESUS is my Savior. No one and nothing else!!! Not wealth. Not status. Not fame. Not might. NOTHING apart from Jesus.
