Judah’s Captivity Illustrated
The word of the Lord came to Ezekiel. The Lord told him that he was living among a rebellious people — a people who have eyes to see but do not see, and ears to hear but do not hear.
God then instructed Ezekiel to pack up his belongings as though preparing for exile. During the day, while the people watched, he was to bring out his belongings as a visible sign. Then, in the evening, while they continued to watch, he was to go out as those going into exile. He was to dig through a wall in their sight and carry his possessions through it. At dusk, he was to lift them onto his shoulder and leave, covering his face so that he could not see the land.
This acted as a living illustration for the exiles in Babylon — showing them what would soon happen to those still remaining in Jerusalem. The exiles would have immediately recognized the symbolism, for they had already lived through that same experience themselves.
God told Ezekiel that when the people asked him what he was doing, he was to reply:
10 “Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: This prophecy concerns the prince in Jerusalem and all the Israelites who are there.’ 11 Say to them, ‘I am a sign to you.’ As I have done, so it will be done to them. They will go into exile as captives”
Ezekiel 12:10-11(NIV)
This act was meant to dispel the false hope among the exiles, the belief that those remaining in Jerusalem would survive and that they themselves might soon be freed. Through this prophecy, Ezekiel revealed that those still in Judah would also be taken into exile.
The prince among them would pack his belongings on his shoulder, and a hole would be dug in the wall for him to escape through. He would cover his face so that he could not see the land, but he would be captured and brought to Babylon, the land of the Chaldeans. There he would die, though he did not expect it.
God declared that He would scatter all those around the prince — his officials and his troops and that they would be pursued by the sword. Only a few would be spared from sword, famine, and plague, and these survivors would be scattered among the nations. There, they would come to recognise their detestable practices and know that He is the Lord.
Then the word of the Lord came again to Ezekiel, instructing him to tremble as he ate and to shudder in fear as he drank — a powerful symbol of the terror and suffering soon to come upon Jerusalem.
19 Say to the people of the land: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says about those living in Jerusalem and in the land of Israel: They will eat their food in anxiety and drink their water in despair, for their land will be stripped of everything in it because of the violence of all who live there. 20 The inhabited towns will be laid waste and the land will be desolate. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”
Ezekiel 12:19-20 (NIV)
The Lord also told Ezekiel that there will be no delay to the judgement he is prophesying. There was a common proverb in Israel that said: ‘The days go by and every vision comes to nothing’? But God was going to put an end to that proverb.
…Say to them, ‘The days are near when every vision will be fulfilled. 24 For there will be no more false visions or flattering divinations among the people of Israel. 25 But I the Lord will speak what I will, and it shall be fulfilled without delay. For in your days, you rebellious people, I will fulfill whatever I say, declares the Sovereign Lord.’”
Ezekiel 12:23-25 (NIV)
The people believed that Ezekiel’s prophecies would not be fulfilled for many years, giving them a false sense of hope and security. But God wanted them to understand that these events were imminent — much closer than they realised.
This serves as a reminder for us today. We, too, are living in the last days, and it can be easy to think that the end-time prophecies written in Revelation are distant or irrelevant. Yet they are nearer than we imagine. Therefore, we must take the prophecies and revelations of Scripture to heart, remaining watchful and living wisely in obedience to God.
Stay Blessed!
Faith With Petra 