Thurs.’s Devo - God’s Rest

Read: Ezekiel 3:16-6:14; Hebrews 4:1-16; Psalm 104:24:-35; Proverbs 26:27
Ezekiel came on the scene during Jeremiah’s last seven years. Ezekiel was from the Zadok priestly family. He had trained in the priesthood during the reign of Jehoiakim then deported to Babylon. His message was to the remnant of Judah in Babylon who were living in moral decay.
Seven days after the vision of the creatures, God spoke to Ezekiel again. He told him that if he didn’t speak the words he told him, their blood would be required of him. If he spoke the words God gave him then he would be free of their sin. That is the responsibility of a prophet. He has to say the words God puts in his mouth. It is not his responsibility how the people react to it, that is their responsibility. God even prepared Ezekiel ahead of time and told him that they were a rebellious house.
Prophets also tell us the future and warn us of what is coming. God had Ezekiel build a fort and act out a siege to show them what would happen to Jerusalem. He was to lie on his left side with their sins laid on him to show how the sins of Israel were laid on him. Israel had lived in iniquity 390 years so he was to lay one day for every year. Judah had lived in iniquity 40 years, so Ezekiel would lie 40 days on his right side. He was to measure out his food to weigh 10 shekels a day. Ten is the number for a test or a trial to determine whether the person has learned what they were suppose to learn.
The worse thing about what God told Ezekiel to do was in the preparation of the bread. He was to cook it over human excretion to be a picture of the defiled bread they would eat when they were taken to Babylon. Ezekiel begged God not to make him use human dung so God allowed him to use cow’s dung instead.
Next he was to shave his head and beard and divide it into three parts. One part was to be burned, another cut with a knife and the last part scattered to the wind. This would be the fate of the people.
The fourth chapter of Hebrews is all about God’s rest. There is no way to enter into the rest Hebrews was talking about apart from faith. It has nothing to do with circumstances or emotions. It has to do with a state of being. It comes when we realize there is nothing we can do to earn God’s favor; rest comes from trusting totally in God.
Jesus, thank you for being our great high priest who understands our weaknesses and temptations. We come boldly before your throne for mercy and grace.