Day 206: Ezekiel 1-4

Ezekiel opens with a description of a vision that God gives to Ezekiel. It's some pretty weird stuff. I won't try to describe it here, you just have to read the first chapter and see for yourself. It does cause me to wonder about the experience of truly and literally being in the presence of the God of the universe. I think if we were to have that experience it would change a lot of the way we talk and think about God...and life in general. Primarily, I think that if we were to actually meet God face to face, like Ezekiel, we would come away with the realization that we understand a lot less about Him than we thought we did.

Anyway, chapter 1 closes with this:

This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of one speaking. (1:28)

And He tells him to do a lot of things. His life sort of becomes a living object lesson for the Israelites. I think it would be a hard life to be a prophet of God. The things He expects a prophet to do are never easy. But He gives Ezekiel the strength he needs to do what is asked of him...

But the people of Israel are not willing to listen to you because they are not willing to listen to me, for all the Israelites are hardened and obstinate. But I will make you as unyielding and hardened as they are. (2:7-8)

I suppose it's true for those of us today who follow the Lord. He expects us to live lives with priorities that seem strange to our culture. The way we live doesn't always make sense to them. They aren't always willing to hear the message of God's love that He expects us to share with them. The message God gives us to take to our generation is way different than the one Ezekiel was given. I can sort of understand why people wouldn't want to hear his message. But it seems odd that people would reject a message of love, doesn't it? But they do...everyday.