Sat.’s Devo - Ezekiel’s Responsibility

Read: Ezekiel 3:16-6:14; Hebrews 4:1-16; Psalm 104:24-35; Proverbs 26:27 Yesterday we read where Ezekiel had been taken by the spirit to the exiles in Tel-abib, beside the Kebar River. He sat for seven days until the Lord gave him a message to speak. God told him that when he received a message from him, he was to give it immediately. If he didn’t give the warning, then he would be held responsible for their deaths. But, if he warned them of what was coming, he would be saved and their fate would be their own fault. *** Ezekiel was taken to a valley where God visited him. He told him to go home and shut himself up. He would be tied with ropes and not able to speak until God have him a message. *** Then Ezekiel was given scenes to act out to show the people that they were going to go under a siege that would be very harsh. He was to bear Israel’s sins for 390 days and Judah’s for 40 in proportion to their evil. When you add the numbers, it comes to 430, which is a number well known to the Israelites because they were in the wilderness for exactly 430 years, to the day. It is a number associated with punishment because of rebellion. *** Ezekiel was given another scene of rationing food to show them the famine that was coming. He was suppose to make it over human dung to show that they would eat defiled bread in the land of the Gentiles where God would banish them. *** Next, Ezekiel was to do a scene representing what would happen to Jerusalem because of her rebellion. A third of them will die in the fire, a third of them will be scattered to other nations and a third of them will die by the war. The fire will spread to destroy all of Israel. *** The people will resort to cannibalism to stay alive, even eating those of their own household. Along with the famine, wild animals will attack them and take their children. *** Ezekiel was told to face the mountains of Israel and pronounce the end of their pagan shrines and altars of incense. They would all be smashed and destroyed. Only a few people would escape the war that was coming. Then, they will know that God is Lord of all. *** In Hebrews, God’s promise of entering into his rest is still offered to us. We enter into this rest by having faith in the Lord. Disobedience will keep us from entering. God rested on the seventh day from his work of creating the world and man. We, too can enter into God’s rest if we obey God. The Word of God is like a sword that cuts and divides our soul from our spirit, our joints from the marrow and cuts between our thoughts and our intentions. We cannot hide anything from the Lord. *** Jesus is our great High Priest who understands our weaknesses because he was a man with the same weaknesses we have, yet he did not sin. We can boldly come to the throne of God and receive mercy and grace in our time of need also. *** Lord, thank you for your prophets who gave their lives to give your word. May we be as devoted to obey you no matter the consequences. Thank you, Jesus, for being our High Priest who is our way to rest. May we enter into your rest.