Reading for today: Ezekiel 1-4
Original post:  September 3, 2014

While Jeremiah was speaking to the people left in Judah, prior to the siege, Israel had already fallen to the invaders.   While they were in captivity, Ezekiel is given a message for them.   Interesting that the message is to repent of their sins, and turn to God.   Captivity has already started for them, it is Judah that is still holding out, back in Jerusalem.    Ezekiel is speaking to the remnant of the Northern Kingdom while they are in Babylon.  Perhaps the message of doom for Judah is given to her brothers in the Northern Kingdom as a way of providing credibility to Ezekiel.   The prophet is telling them what will happen before it happens, and when it does, he will be received as a man of God.   That's enormously important, because Ezekiel has many comforting messages from God to deliver, and the people need to be convinced that He represents God authentically.

The opening passages of Ezekiel fill our minds with wonder and amazement.   Whatever Ezekiel saw put him into a state of shock for 7 days, that's how amazing it was.     One day you and I will be able to look upon the very thing that Ezekiel described.    We will say "Oh, that's what he meant by a wheel intersecting a wheel".  In my mind, that would look something like the symbol for an atom.

I doubt that our human minds can conceive of what God has designed in heaven.  Who can explain why the angelic beings have four faces?   Or what the faces represent?    It's fine to wonder and speculate, but only the Lord knows for sure.   On thing is for certain, heaven is filled with incredible things that this world cannot imagine.    Those who try and describe heaven as a place where they can hunt and fish, or whatever....set the bar far too low.   Heaven exists on a higher plane of sensory experience than what our bodies can presently handle.   We cannot enter and remain in heaven in these bodies...we must be changed.    To our human way of understanding heaven is too brilliant and too holy to be absorbed.  

Ezekiel is given a stout heart and a stubborn spirit.  I like the idea that sometimes being stubborn comes from God.   I guess it isn't always a sin to be stubborn, huh?

I also note that God doesn't apologize for the difficult treatment that Ezekiel will endure.  While those around him enjoy fields and harvests, time with friends, etc.   He is bound with rope and forced to lay on his side for over a year.    He can only drink what is rationed out to him...because he is the messenger.    That doesn't fit with the "prosperity gospel" message that some are preaching these days.   Sometimes the person afflicted is the one who is in the center of God's will.

PR