Ezekiel 24 -- This One Had To Have Shaken Ezekiel To His Core

I mourned with Ezekiel this morning.  God had continued to use things in his life as illustrations for the people of Judah, and this one hurt.  God told him:  “I am going to take you wife from you, the woman you look at with love.  She will die suddenly, but you must not be sad or cry loudly for her or shed any tears.  Groan silently; do not cry loudly or shed any tears.”  God also told him not to do any of the traditional things they normally did for funerals and mourning.  She was the desire of his eyes and God was taking her from him as a lesson to the nation of Judah.

That’s a hard lesson.  Did Ezekiel tell her?  If so, what were her thoughts about the part she was chosen to play?  How his heart must have ached and yet God did not permit him to show it.

In his sadness and despair, he then had to tell the people that God had allowed the invading army to overrun Jerusalem and destroy it and everyone in it that very day.  The Temple, which they thought gave them strength despite their sinfulness, had become the desire of their eyes, and it would be destroyed.  They would not be allowed to mourn for their murdered children either.

How this message he was given to deliver must have almost destroyed his heart!  And yet, because of God’s sovereignty, the only proper response would have been, “Yes, Lord …”  And in those two words we see Ezekiel’s response and what our response is supposed to be as well.  God has chosen, and God knows best.  God loves us more than we know, and more than we could ever love Him, and He has planned His best for us if we will but follow.  That’s the only answer I have.

Father, I trust You, and sometimes my little heart can’t understand.  At those times, all I know to do is to hold onto Your hand, and repeat, “I trust You, Lord.”

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford