Today's Reading:

Ezekiel 17
Ezekiel 18
Ezekiel 19
Ezekiel 20

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​God said, “I let them make themselves unclean by their gifts they bring like the sacrifice of every firstborn, so that I might fill them with horror, so they would wake up and know that I am the Lord (Ezekiel 20:26). The law from God in Exodus 13:12-13 declared that the firstborn belonged to the Lord and were to be redeemed, not killed. They were not supposed to sacrifice the firstborn. Israel rejected God’s good laws, and so He handed them over to their own choices. He allowed them to follow the corrupt practices of the surrounding nations, which were destructive and defiling. Judgment came through God's abandonment, allowing them to suffer in order to come to know Him. This was like letting your kids learn the hard way, and that is exactly what God was doing with His children. By letting them learn the hard way, it was a form of grace, a way to bring them back to Him.

Have you ever experienced a time when God allowed you to face the painful consequences of your own choices, and looking back, can you see how that “hard way” was actually His grace trying to bring you back to Him? 

God told Ezekiel to tell another parable to the Israelites: An eagle flew to Lebanon, and took the top, highest branch off a cedar tree, and carried it away to a city of traders, where he planted it. Then the eagle took a seedling from the land and planted it in fertile soil by abundant water so that it would grow into a spreading vine. What each part means:

•  The cedar tree in Lebanon- Jerusalem, Davidic royal line.
• The top, highest branch (the shoot)- King Jehoiachin of Judah.
• The city of traders- Babylon.
• The seedling that became a spreading vine- Zedekiah (Jehoiachin’s uncle).

The vine’s branches turned toward a second eagle that appeared. Although the vine was already planted in good soil and had everything it needed, with plenty of water, God asked, “Will the vine thrive?” No. It would wither and die from the east wind.

•  The first eagle- Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.
• The second eagle- Egypt (Pharaoh).
• The vine that turns toward the second eagle- Zedekiah’s rebellion, as he tried to break free from Babylon’s control.
• The seedling/vine- Zedekiah, the vassal king left over the remaining remnant in Judah.

So, God Himself would take a shoot from David’s line and plant it on Mount Zion. This was an image of the coming Messiah, Jesus. He would gather birds of every kind, meaning people from all nations. The parables warn that breaking oaths can bring judgment, and it was foolish to trust in human alliances such as Egypt instead of submitting to God’s plan. Even after the judgment, there would be hope through the Messiah.

In chapter 18, there was another parable, this time about parents and their children’s teeth. The people believed that they were being punished for the sins of their ancestors, rather than their own sins. They accused God of being unfair. God said everyone is accountable for their own actions and must answer to Him. God used the example of three generations of men. The righteous man would live. The wicked son would die for his own sins, and his father’s righteousness could not save him. The righteous grandson, who saw his father’s wickedness and did just the opposite to becoming righteous like the grandfather, would live because his father’s sins and guilt were not his own. In short, if one turns away from sin, they will live. If one turns from righteousness, they will die. God said He is fair, and it is their own ways that are unjust. God called the people to repent and receive a new heart and a new spirit.

Chapter 19 was a lament for funerals for the princes (kings) of Israel (Judah). The first section was a lioness and her cubs. The first cub grew into a strong lion that devoured men. The nations trapped him and took him in chains and hooks to Egypt. The second cub also became a powerful lion. He was trapped in a net and taken to the king of Babylon so that his roar would be heard no more. What each part means: 

• The lioness = Israel / Judah (the Davidic house).
• The cubs = the princes (kings) of Judah.
• The first cub (trapped and taken to Egypt) = Jehoahaz, who reigned only a few months after Josiah’s death (2 Kings 23:31-34).
• The second cub (trapped in a net and taken to Babylon) = Jehoiachin or Zedekiah.
• The shift from lions to the vine = the same “mother” (Judah and the Davidic line) now pictured in collapse and loss of leadership

In verse 19:10, Scripture shifted from lions to a vine. This is still the same “mother,” the nation of Judah and the royal family of David. At one time she was planted in a good place with plenty of water, and she grew strong, fruitful branches. But then she was violently pulled up by the roots, dried out by the east wind, and burned. The fire even started from one of her own branches and destroyed everything, because there was no strong stem left to hold the plant together or to rule. It showed the total collapse of leadership in Judah.

She once bore fruit and even had branches long enough to make scepters. In the end, everything collapsed; she never produced strong kings (“royal scepters”). In the end, everything collapsed, and there was no independent king left. Zedekiah’s decisions helped bring that final destruction. Chapter 19 echoes some of the same ideas as chapter 17, but it is a completely new lament, not a sequel or continuation.​

In chapter 20, the elders came to see Ezekiel (591 BC). God had refused to talk and told Ezekiel to confront them and expose their history of rebellion. God Himself had chosen Israel as His people. He swore to bring them out of Egypt to the land of milk and honey, and yet they rebelled. He wanted to pour out His wrath but restrained Himself for His own name’s sake. The first generation in the wilderness did not get to leave the wilderness, and the second generation was told not to follow in their fathers’ footsteps. Still, the second generation rebelled, and so He gave the people over to the consequences of their own choices (like child sacrifices) and scattered them. Even after entering into the Promised Land, they continued in idolatry, blaspheming God. This current generation was no better than the two from the wilderness time. God would gather and judge them face-to-face in order to get rid of the rebellious people. They would serve Him on His holy mountain when He brought the faithful remnant back, and He would accept them. They would remember their evil ways and hate themselves.

 God then told Ezekiel to prophesy against the southern forest (the Negev of Judah and Jerusalem) that He would start a fire to burn up every tree. Burning both the green and dry, which was seen as the wicked and the righteous. Ezekiel complained that the people say he only talks in parables, and this chapter was the perfect example. In the end, the fire would let everyone know that God had kindled the judgment.

Today's Discussion question:

Have you ever experienced a time when God allowed you to face the painful consequences of your own choices, and looking back, can you see how that “hard way” was actually His grace trying to bring you back to Him?

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