Ezekiel 4:1-17
Q.1. In what unusual way was the prophet to clarify the sins of the nations of Israel and Judah? – (Ezk.4:1-8)
We can imagine that the children of the Jewish families living nearby would have loved joining Ezekiel in building the model city of a besieged Jerusalem (Ezk.4:1-3). However, it was no game. God told the prophet that – this is a sign to the house of Israel (Ezk.4:3). Sadly, Israel and Judah were blind to their sins, so God further instructed Ezekiel on how to clarify exactly what their offences were. He was to bear the sins of God’s people by sleeping for three hundred and ninety days on his left side, and for forty days on his right side. God explained – For I have assigned you a number of days corresponding to the years of their iniquity, three hundred and ninety days; this long you shall bear the iniquity of the house of Israel … When you have completed these, you shall lie down a second time, but on your right side and bear the iniquity of the house of Judah; I have assigned it to you for forty days, a day for each year (Ezk.4:5-6). We know from the histories recorded in 1st and 2nd Kings and Chronicles, that Israel had been far more wicked than the nation of Judah. In this way, Ezekiel would act out the coming siege of Jerusalem (Ezk.4:7-8).
Q.2. What odious food preparation was Ezekiel to engage in? Did God listen to the request of His prophet? What message was God driving home to His people? – (Ezk.4:9-17)
God provided the prophet with grain for bread that would adequately maintain his health with – wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet, and spelt (Ezk.4:9). This diet was to predict that – bread and water will be scarce; and they will be appalled with one another and waste away in their iniquity (Ezk.4:17). He was to cook his food in the sight of the people, using human excrement for fuel (Ezk.4:12). Ezekiel was appalled. He protested – Ah, Lord God! Behold, I have never been defiled; for from my youth until now I have never eaten what died of itself or was torn by beasts, nor has any unclean meat ever entered my mouth (Ezk.4:14). God heard his plea and provided cow dung as a substitute. In this way, God clearly displayed the vileness of the sins committed by His people (Ezk.4:15-17).