Ezekiel 12:1-7
The 'word of the Lord' is one of the 59 times it is used in Ezekiel. It's his way of indicating what follows came from God. The 'rebellious house' is a reference to Israel. This is unique to Ezekiel and used 15 times. The rebellious house of Israel had eyes and ears but couldn't see or hear the things of the Lord. It's as if they had no spiritual lens with which to see. It's as though they had no interpreter to help them know what they heard. The sights and words all made it to the senses but never moved the heart.
Because of this, Ezekiel was called to pack his bag for exile. This would be a sign to these people. Assyrian reliefs depict Israel going to captivity carrying bags on their shoulders. The Talmud says these bags contained mat on which to sleep, a lamp and a cup. The act is progressive:
- By day, he was to bring the belongings out into their sight, as if ready to leave.
- At evening, he was to go out in their sight and dig a hole through the wall, carry his belongings through.
- At twilight, he was to carry them out as if to leave. He was to cover his face.
He was to cover his face so that he could not see the ground. It's unclear what is exactly meant by this. Since it appears he is acting out Zedekiah's attempt to flee, the covering of face is probably to not be recognized. In doing so, he would not see the land again. For others, this might have been seen as covering face in grief, and in doing so, they would not see the land again.
Ezekiel 12:8-16
It's easy to imagine people watching Ezekiel, they may well have seen him as the crazy prophet. "What are you doing?" they would ask. Acting out the sign became very visual, something easy to remember. This created an opportunity to explain. Thought they may dig through the wall to escape in the dark, they would not escape. The Lord spread His net and nothing escapes His capture. Zedekiah is the Prince of Jerusalem, the king of his people. We know he attempted escape, was captured and blinded after seeing his children executed. He would live out his days in Babylon but never see it (2 Kings 25:7).
Most would fall to the sword, pestilence and famine. Those that didn't die would be carried off to Babylon in captivity. A small group would be preserved simply to acknowledge the guilt of Israel. In each case, as this was happening, exactly as the Lord said, they would come to know that He is Lord.
We see all through the bible that there are people who haves eyes to see, but don't; and ears to hear, but don't. See Deuteronomy 29:1-4; Isaiah 6:9-10; and Matthew 13. It is not possible to discern God's word and will without the Holy Spirit.
Ezekiel 12:17-20
Ezekiel was to eat and drink as if he were a prison given rations or as one who survived this onslaught and was trying to survive on meager rations. Ezekiel played the part, quaking and shaking as he ate, trembling with nerves and fear creeping in as he drank. We can imagine what Ezekiel might have looked like; savoring the food and drink of the meager portion but looking around as he ate, his hand shaking, jumpy at every sound. Imagine someone asking, "Ezekiel, is everything okay, you don't look well." At the question he would explain that they should be concerned about themselves, for this would be them soon. The invading army would empty the land of its people, its crops and it livestock. This judgment was designed to make the land desolate and to lay waste cities. Then, it would be clear that He is the Lord.
Ezekiel 12:21-25
The proverb was the response to repeated warnings of judgment, yet nothing had happened yet. They found safety in this instead of grace. They didn't understand it as God's mercy and long suffering wanting all to come to repentance. Instead, they came to believe today would be like yesterday and tomorrow will be like today. Nothings happened yet, so God isn't going to do anything. There were many false prophets in Jerusalem saying, "Peace and safety!" to the people. It was easier and more pleasant to believe than the truth. These men offered false visions and flattery to the people, making them blind to the truth.
God said he would lay this proverb to rest, it would no longer be repeated and believed. The day had arrived when every vision would be fulfilled. Whatever God speaks would come to pass. There was no such thing as a failed vision or meaningless words.
Ezekiel 12:26-28
The response of the people was denying the truth, deny God's word. They simply didn't want to face it. To do so put them in the path of God's fury, it threated their comfortable lives. They found strength in numbers, as if God wouldn't dare judge them all or judge Jerusalem. They were trusting in too many other things. They comforted themselves by saying the prophecies were for later, for the future, for the next generations. God assured them it was happening in the present tense.
©2019 Doug Ford
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