Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 4-6, Psalm 51
I am a visual learner, which means I prefer to read information over listening to it. I remember facts better if I can see them. When a speaker or preacher tells a story that allows me to visualize what is happening, I am on the edge of my seat. I am more engaged if I can picture what the speaker is describing. God used some very dramatic visual aids to be performed by or lived out by Ezekiel, getting the attention of his audience with visual messages that would be hard to forget.
God called Ezekiel to be WEIRD. I am not sure that there is a better word to describe his calling. Ezekiel could have let pride get in the way and could have said, “No God, that’s just WEIRD. What would people think of me?” But instead Ezekiel experienced things like no one else ever had or ever will, all because he was willing to be WEIRD for God.
EZEKIEL WAS WILLING TO BE WEIRD IF THAT’S WHAT GOD WAS CALLING HIM TO BE.
Ezekiel took a brick and drew a map of Jerusalem on it. Similar to a young child playing with Legos, Ezekiel built a wall around the brick and then set up enemy camps to surround the city/brick, with little miniature siege ramps and battering rams. He took an iron griddle and placed it between himself and the brick (Ezekiel 4:1-3).
Then Ezekiel lay on his side facing the replica of Jerusalem and placed the sins of Israel on himself. He was tied up with ropes and confined to this position for 390 days, one day for each year of Israel’s sin. Then Ezekiel turned over and on his right side for another 40 days, one for each year of Judah’s sin. For 430 days (that’s 14 months), Ezekiel laid on his side, tied up with rope, baring his arm and prophesying Jerusalem’s destruction (4:4-8).
During this time, Ezekiel ate food he had prepared in advance and rationed out. He did this to show how food in Jerusalem would be hard to find and rationed in small portions. God asked him to prepare this bread using human dung to show how the Israelites would be forced to eat defiled bread in the Gentile lands to which they would be banished. This was when Ezekiel had a please-not-that-God moment. God relented and allowed Ezekiel to bake his bread over cow dung instead (still gross, but not quite as WEIRD).
GOD SHOWED MERCY IN THE MIDST OF THE HARD THING HE WAS ASKING EZEKIEL TO DO.
Then Ezekiel shaved his head and divided the hair into three piles. He took 1/3 of the hair and laid it on the brick replica of Jerusalem. He then acted out the siege with his miniature enemies, just as a young child would play with their toys. He took another third of his hair and spread it across his battle ground and then chopped it up with a sword. Then he took the last third of his hair and lifted it for the wind to scatter. He then took some of the hair in front of him and threw it on the fire. Some of God’s people would not survive the famine, some would die violent deaths in the battle, and some would be scattered into exile.
“But I will let a few of my people escape destruction, and they will be scattered among the nations of the world. Then when they are exiled among the nations, they will remember me. They will recognize how hurt I am by their unfaithful hearts and lustful eyes that long for their idols. Then at last they will hate themselves for all their detestable sins. They will know that I alone am the Lord and that I was serious when I said I would bring this calamity on them.” – Ezekiel 6:8-10
The story of Ezekiel’s life is bizarre and interesting, but it comes down to one simple statement – Ezekiel was WEIRD because God called him to be WEIRD. He was willing to be WEIRD if that’s what God wanted him to be, if that’s what it took for God to get the attention of His people.
HOW WILL WE RESPOND IF GOD CALLS US TO DO SOMETHING WEIRD?
What happens if God asks us to do something outlandish for Him? What happens if He asks us to do something that seems unreasonable, ridiculous, or just plain WEIRD? Are we willing to go there? Are we willing to put pride aside and do whatever God asks us to do? Hmmmm. Will we give God our “yes” no matter how others may question or criticize us? That’s a hard question that needs some time to process in order to answer honestly. I think I will go back for a second cup of my morning coffee and seek the heart of God on this one.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and make me willing to obey you.
Then I will teach your ways to rebels,
and they will return to you. – Psalm 51:12-13