Saturday, August 22
Read Ezekiel 4
Think About It:
- God is merciful, but He is also just. Because He is holy, there are always consequences to sin. God’s bride must be holy, and He makes us holy as we commit to obedience. Often, when punishment for sin is not immediate, we justify our actions by looking at someone whose sin appears worse than our own and in doing so, we fail to maintain a repentant heart. Spend a few minutes after reading Ezekiel 4 and talk to God about anything in your life that needs correction, even the smallest thought, attitude or act you think of that you know in your heart would not win the approval of Jesus – He is always faithful and just to forgive us, and just waiting for us to see it and confess it to Him. Psalm 106:15, says God fulfilled the request of the Israelites but sent them “leanness of soul.” Ezekiel 4 ends with God’s plan to break the supply of bread in Jerusalem, just as Jeremiah had prophesied, as a result of their sin. A continuously repentant heart is key. We must make sure we serve God with cheerfulness in the abundance of all things so we do not end up serving the enemy in lack of all things. Satan comes to steal, kill and destroy but Jesus came to give us life, and that more abundantly (John 10:10).
- A picture is worth a thousand words. Even more powerful is the symbolism in Ezekiel’s actions as he lived out the direction of God. Look at the level of detail in how Ezekiel was directed to play out the siege of Jerusalem. He was re-telling what Jeremiah had already foretold, but they refused to believe. So, God, in His mercy, gave them a picture that they could not easily forget, through Ezekiel’s actions. This chapter made me ask myself, “Am I that obedient to every detail God speaks to my heart?” God has specific reasons for each attribute in His guidance as He orchestrates our lives. That is why the enemy constantly tries to distract us with continuous activity, so we do not take the time to examine our hearts or hear from heaven or notice the detail in God’s direction to us. Pray for a heightened awareness to God’s voice, set aside times throughout each day to hear Him speak to your heart, and ask Him for the strength and discipline to intentionally determine to follow through to the very specific detail He provides.
Family Time:
- God gave Ezekiel a list of things he had to do. These things were to help Ezekiel understand the sin Israel had committed and the judgement that was going to come. Ezekiel had to lay on his left side all day for 390 days for Israel’s sins. He had to lay on his right side for 40 days for Judah’s sins. Each day symbolized a whole year. Try laying on your left side for 390 seconds and your right side for 40 seconds. Imagine if that were days – and years!!
- We use charcoal or wood – or an oven – to cook our food. God directed Ezekiel to use human waste – GROSS! This was another way to show how Israel was defiled – sinful. Read verse 14. Can you believe Ezekiel was telling God he wasn’t going to do that?! What did God say to Ezekiel in verse 15? Kids hear a lot of talk about obeying and not questioning things. When God told Ezekiel to use human waste how did he react? Did he gag and throw a temper tantrum? How do you react when you are told to eat something or do something you don’t like? Use Ezekiel’s example the next time you aren’t happy with a situation.
PARENTS: Help your kids understand Ezekiel’s response and good ways to deal respectfully with authority.
