- Moreover, he said to me, “Son of man, behold, I will break the supply of bread in Jerusalem. They shall eat bread by weight and with anxiety, and they shall drink water by measure and in dismay. I will do this that they may lack bread and water, and look at one another in dismay, and rot away because of their punishment. Ezekiel 4:16-17 – God is seeking to open the eyes of Israel to the reality that sin brings into one’s life. If all this that we are reading is a piece of that reality and is also a tool God is using to lead His people away from sin, can you even imagine the torment Hell must be? God doesn’t want us to live this reality. That’s why He sent the people here Ezekiel to share with them the truth. That’s why God sent us Jesus. God doesn’t want you living in what sin brings you. Learn from scripture what the reality of sin is and lean into God instead. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1068
- For I assign to you a number of days, 390 days, equal to the number of the years of their punishment. So long shall you bear the punishment of the house of Israel. 6 And when you have completed these, you shall lie down a second time, but on your right side, and bear the punishment of the house of Judah. Forty days I assign you, a day for each year. Ezekiel 4:5-6 – As I read through the prophetic books in the Bible, one thing that amazes me is what many of the prophets said yes to in their obedience to the Lord. Here Ezekiel is told to lay on his left side for 390 days, then his right for 40 days. Now exactly what this looked like we aren’t certain, but most likely this looked liked hours each day simply lying in this position for the spectators. For over a year Ezekiel was being commanded to do this as a sign for the people of what was coming their way. After reading these sort of commands that the prophets were told to follow simply to share a message to a people that most likely wouldn’t care or listen, I find myself disappointed in myself by how often I say something is “too much” or “too difficult” that God is calling me to do. Something in comparison far easier to be asked to do than what the prophets were called to do I can reject as “too much to be asked to do.” Talk with my neighbor about Jesus…that’s too awkward. Forgive them…that’s too much. Read my Bible and pray…I just can’t manage to squeeze time in for that. But take over a year of my life, setting aside all other parts of my life during this time, to lie on one side to share a message…easy, I could do that. How backwards can I find myself and I wonder if this is ever you as well. Let’s seek to be faithful to whatever we’re called to – big, small, easy, or hard. God is worthy of our obedience. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2345
Daily DEVO 