Ezekiel 25:1 - God's Message came to Ezekiel at the exact moment...preach against Ammon and his people. Ezekiel 26 - Prophesy against Tyre and God will introduce them to the terrors of death.
Ezekiel 26:15 - "Oh Tyre, won't the ocean islands shake at the crash of your collapse, at the groans of your wouned, at your mayhem and massacre?
What is friendship? Did Ezekiel have true friends? He just lost the love of his life. And his God is asking him to keep on confronting those who are living in sin. Ezekiel was not a popular guy. I wonder how he dealt with his aloneness. Wonder what he was convinced about to be a voice crying in the wilderness.
Annette, just sent an e-mail to you.
ReplyDeleteFG
Have finally caught up on the Ezekiel reading. Even though it's hard reading, I feel more alive now that I'm back in the Word. I have been completely wiped out this past week. It's been difficult to recover my energy after the exhausting week in D.C.
ReplyDeleteHappily though, I got confirmation today that our dossier was delivered to the ministry in charge of orphans! We are officially in line for our little girl, after almost six months of gathering the necessary paperwork. Praise God.
I'm guessing that the life of a prophet is extremely lonely and difficult. Poor Ezekiel. I can't even imagine not being able to grieve for my spouse! Yet he was faithful in delivering God's messages.
These prophesies against Ammon, Moab,Edom,Philistia and Tyre were so detailed. It's interesting to me that though God was severely punishing Israel for their idol worship, He reserved His severest punishments for those nations who had caused problems for Israel and cheered at their destruction.
I wonder how many times I've been secretly happy when my opponents got what I thought they deserved. Isn't that likely what these nations thought? Yikes. Yet God saw their pride, arrogance, idol worship and self-reliance. He wanted to make sure that they knew He is God.
A good reminder today that He is God. We had a rough weekend with my in-laws in town, and I have been wrestling with a lot of sin in my own heart.
Hopefully, I'll be back on track with everyone from here on out...
I was thinking how Ezekiel must have faced the prospect of getting stoned for bringing such a terrible message. Or did they even listen..."there goes old crazy Ezekiel again..." Wondering how he dealt with the job God game him. How alone he must have been--but kept faithful.
ReplyDeleteTerribly Exhausted in the middle of moving...why do I hang on to memorabilia? Delayed a little today by the rain but we are a bit ahead of schedule and I'm so grateful. Laura Bush wrote in her memoirs that she doesn't keep stuff like even furniture, she just takes a picture of it and passes it on. Oh to be free! I'm trying to "let go" over here in ATX.
ReplyDeleteAnd then I've thought all day about Ezekiel losing his wife so God could use him as an example. She was the love of his lonely life! Ooohh! I wrote her name on my hand today---maybe I was mourning a little too! Lost our church family, lost my last little one to college, lost our home, lost my health a bit this month (but I'll be back, Lord willing), lost our insurance and lost a bit more and all at the same time...but really, isn't it more like God is detaching me from anything that brings me joy but Him? I'm struggling, wrestling through, falling forward. Talked with Annette this afternoon and it helped me so much. She gave me courage in midst of my beating myself up over my sin, feeling like I've failed so much.
So grateful for each one of you and you mean so much to me. You give me hope and such encouragement to press on. We are all holding fast together to a very Good God, Who is watching our backs. And all those cries we've been offering up, HE is already walking, wondering, waiting and moving to find us in our wilderness. That's just so good! My love to each of you and may we all draw deep hope from the life of Ezekiel that it is all about HIM and His Message to advance His Kingdom. Love, Bev
Cici, that's pretty awesome news...in line for your baby girl! Isa 64:4 God acts in behalf of those who wait for Him! Waiting with you for all He will do!
ReplyDeleteBev,
ReplyDeleteYes you have and are experiencing many losses of this earthly world. I can only imagine and yet I see you as Moses "Preparing a Way for others when many of your expereinces will be duplicated in other peoples lives. The enemy so wants to shoot us down fast and even will hit below the line then you will be able to share your story that will provide sustaining Hope from a Good God who loves His creation.
Look forward to seeing you soon on
Oct 1st.
Sylvia
This is a Song I Must Sing with prayers for sustained healing and beside attenditon.