Fri.’s Devo - God’s Rest

Read: Ezekiel 3:16-6:14; Hebrews 4:1-16; Psalm 104:24-35; Proverbs 26:27
We left Ezekiel yesterday sitting in wonder after seeing the vision of the four living creatures. He sat for a week and then God spoke and told him his mission. He was to be a watchman for the house of Israel. It was his responsibility to listen to Gods’ voice and warn them of what he said. If he didn’t warn them then Ezekiel would be held responsible for the man’s sin. That was a heavy responsibility, but Ezekiel agreed to it. He was to act out the people’s sins and God’s judgements on the sin. Ezekiel was to be a living picture of what God was doing on the earth.
Ezekiel was told to draw a picture of the city and construct siege works against it. After that he had to lie tied in ropes on one side for 390 days to bear the sin of Israel and 40 days on his other side for the sin of Judah. During that time he was to eat measured out wheat to show that their food would be portioned out during the siege.
He was told to shave his beard and head and divide the hair into thirds to show that a third of the people would die by the sword, a third by the famine and a third would be scattered over the earth. God was coming to judge the gods Israel had come to trust in instead of him.
Ezekiel gave up his life totally to serve and suffer for his people. It cost him dearly to be God’s spokesman on earth.
Hebrews talks much about the word “rest”. God rested on the seventh day but he didn’t rest like we view rest, he sat to rule. His work was over. It was his plan that the children of Israel were to rule the earth, but they failed to enter into their destiny because they hardened their hearts. He is still calling to us to enter into that place of rulership where we cease from doing our own thing and we choose to rule and reign with Him. He judges the thoughts and the intentions of our hearts.
Lord, may our thoughts and intentions honor you. May we rule and reign with you on the earth.