March 1, 2025

God told Ezekiel that if he didn’t warn the people of their sins, their blood would be on his hands. Then God closed his mouth so he couldn’t speak, but when He decided it was time, He would open his mouth. Rather than speak his prophetic warning, he was required to act it out because words didn’t seem to affect people’s behavior, so he had to treat them like children and give them pictures. God told Ezekiel to set up a diorama showing a siege against them, gather less than ideal grain for bread to last for the entire time, and cook it over dung. This act would show them that they would eat defiled bread among the Gentiles, which would be measured so they couldn’t consume too much. He was to lay on his side for 390 days for the sins of Israel and 40 days for the sins of Judah; this represented how long they would be under siege. Ezekiel was acting so he could get up and move about while the people weren’t there to see him. Understanding this may be hard for us because times are different, but in that day and time, it would have penetrated their hearts if they weren’t hardened against God. 

The point for us is to use whatever means necessary to get our message across to the sinful people around us; God will show us how. Though we may not be prophets like Ezekiel, we have been given a commission by Jesus to tell the world about him. Not doing so could put their blood on our hands. If they don’t turn, that’s their problem, but your hands will be clean if you warn them of their coming doom. 

When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. Ezekiel 3:18-19

Lie thou also upon thy left side, and lay the iniquity of the house of Israel upon it: according to the number of the days that thou shalt lie upon it thou shalt bear their iniquity. Ezekiel 4:4

February 28, 2025

Ezekiel was sent to the children of Israel during their captivity in Babylon. God sent them there because of their rebellion against Him. Even though Ezekiel was a priest before the captivity, God called him to be His prophet and to take His message to them. We can see from the stories in Ezekiel and Daniel that though God loved these two prophets, they were still sent to Babylon as captives along with the defiant children. God needed them as messengers for Him. He loved Israel and didn't want them to forget about their heritage, but also wanted them to submit to Him and love Him. The scriptures tell us that the Holy Spirit entered Ezekiel, and he heard God speak. God told him not to be afraid of the people as obstinate as they were. Then he saw a hand, and it rolled out a scroll in front of him. God told him to eat it. This portion of God's word clearly indicates His desire for us to consume His scriptures and feed our spirit with His words. How else are we going to know how He wants us to behave? 

Jesus rolls out the scripture before us every day. You probably have an app on your phone or a dusty Bible in your home, and he calls us all to witness to others to help bring them into submission to the Lord, the equivalent of eating the scroll. Feed your spirit every day by consuming God's word, and He will use you in unimaginable ways. I pray that you see Him working in your life and the lives of others as confirmation of your calling.

But thou, son of man, hear what I say unto thee; Be not thou rebellious like that rebellious house: open thy mouth, and eat that I give thee. And when I looked, behold, an hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein; Ezekiel 2:8-9

February 27, 2025

Ezekiel was in captivity in Babylon by the river Chebar. He had an incredible vision of God's spirit surrounded by the image of angels. He does his best to describe what he saw, but I cannot picture it. God may have given him this vision as a precursor to his calling to be His prophet to the captive Israelites in Babylon. It was probably a shocking scene that would get his attention and let him know that what he was about to see and hear was coming from the Almighty God. 

God speaks to us in different ways; He knows us well, so He communicates in ways he knows we will hear Him. In my case, it started with simple observations of birds, understanding what their colors and mannerisms conveyed. He made use of them so that I would understand what He meant when He presented them to me. For instance, in my understanding of God's voice, the American Egret, a big white bird, represents purity and holiness; the owl, who is a night predator, represents demonic activity; the Roseate Spoonbill, a beautiful pink bird, is a blessing because I love seeing them. He will likely use something you enjoy or can relate to when He speaks to you. Ultimately, God speaks through the Bible; however, sometimes, He reaches out to us in ways that suit our understanding. 

The word of the LORD came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the LORD was there upon him. Ezekiel 1:3

February 26, 2025

Everything Jeremiah told King Zedekiah was coming true; the fall of Jerusalem was at hand. Nebuchadnezzar and his army besieged the city, and his generals came in and sat at the middle gate. Zedekiah took off but was caught before he got to Jericho. The soldiers took him to Nebuchadnezzar, where he had his sons and nobles killed, then gouged his eyes out, put him in chains, and carried him off to Babylon. The Chaldeans burned down the palace and the homes of the people, then knocked down the walls. However, Nebuchadnezzar had a soft spot in his heart for Jeremiah, had his people treat him well, and let him out of prison. He had probably heard Jeremiah's warnings from God to Zedekiah about his invasion and conquering of Jerusalem. Before Nebuchadnezzar's conquest, Jeremiah got word from God to tell Zedekiah's servant, Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, that the invasion wouldn't harm him and God would deliver him out of the hands of men because he helped Jeremiah and listened to the Lord more than His own people.

Though we may go through tough times, we can see from this story that because we love Jesus and do our best to obey God, He will honor us by protecting us from His wrath, just as he did Jeremiah and Edebmelech. 

Now Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon gave charge concerning Jeremiah to Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, saying, Take him, and look well to him, and do him no harm; but do unto him even as he shall say unto thee. Jeremiah 39:11-12

February 25, 2025

God gave many warnings to the king and princes of Jerusalem, but they were met with indignation, especially from the princes. They were angry that Jeremiah brought nothing but bad news. In their anger, they lowered Jeremiah into a cistern that had no water but was muddy, and he sank in the mud. The Bible doesn't specify how long Jeremiah was there, but it was long enough that he was in danger of starvation. Fortunately for him, an Ethiopian servant, Ebedmelech, in the king's house got word of the evil done to Jeremiah by being put in the cistern and asked King Zedekiah if they could get him out before he died. The king commanded Ebedmelech to take thirty men with him to get him out. Ebedmelech took soft rags and cords to lift Jeremiah out of the pit gently. 

King Zedekiah then had Jeremiah brought to him to get a word from God. Jeremiah was careful about what he said, fearing retribution because there were only warnings and bad news for all of them. Zedekiah promised not to kill him, so Jeremiah told him to turn himself over to the king of Babylon, or the Chaldeans would burn the city. Zedekiah had no intention of doing what God told him through Jeremiah. 

What is the point of listening to preaching or reading the Bible if you don't plan on following the advice given? Do you get credit for showing up to church or reading the Bible? No! Don't waste your time inquiring of God if you don't plan to do what He says. We must be obedient to God so it fares well for us.

So Jeremiah abode in the court of the prison until the day that Jerusalem was taken: and he was therewhen Jerusalem was taken. Jeremiah 38:28

February 24, 2025

God told Jeremiah to gather the older people and older priests at the east gate, the valley of the son of Hinnom, and to take a clay bottle with him. He told the people that he was about to bring evil upon this place because they were burning incense to other gods, and they were burning their sons as an offering to Baal, which was something He had never even considered requiring them to do. They had rejected the laws of God but worshipped their fake gods more than the one true God. He told them that the valley of the son of Hinton would soon be called the valley of slaughter because many would be scattered there and left for the birds and animals to devour their carcasses. He then broke the bottle as an active prophecy to them that there would be no putting the country back together unless God did it.

Many countries in the world, but especially the United States and Europe, are guilty of heinous crimes against children, whether it is abortion or trafficking for the pleasure of sick adults. We are waiting on God’s retribution and are unsure how long He will allow it to continue. Hopefully, the madness will stop before God decides to pour his wrath upon us. 

Then shalt thou break the bottle in the sight of the men that go with thee, And shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Even so will I break this people and this city, as one breaketh a potter's vessel, that cannot be made whole again: and they shall bury them in Tophet, till there be no place to bury. Jeremiah 19:10-11

February 23, 2025

God told Jeremiah to stop praying for the people, he didn’t give up and poured out his heart on their behalf. Even though their sin was great, he still hoped that God would relent and turn His wrath away from them. The people were no longer sending their servants for water; they may have had to let them go because they couldn’t maintain their health because of the famine and drought. Now, they are teaching their children to fetch the water, but there was none to get. The ground was so dry that the plowmen were ashamed because plows wouldn’t penetrate that soil. 

This story almost reads like a parable. Much like trying to share the gospel with an atheist or someone whose mind has been twisted by the enemy, the ground was dry and unable to receive the truth and understand it. Hard soil will reject water given it and not soak in. If you’ve ever tried wetting soil that had been dry for a long time, you understand what happens; it stays right on the surface unless you keep pouring water over it, and it can take a while for it to start soaking in. Much like Jeremiah praying for the people who seem to be a lost cause with their idol worship, don’t give up on the family and friends you are trying to get to trust in Jesus; keep pouring on the water, and it may eventually soak in. 

Thus saith the LORD unto this people, Thus have they loved to wander, they have not refrained their feet, therefore the LORD doth not accept them; he will now remember their iniquity, and visit their sins. Then said the LORD unto me, Pray not for this people for their good. Jeremiah 14:10-11