Ezekiel 12, Rationalizing

It seems odd that Ezekiel is prophesying to the Israelites in exile in Babylon about the judgment coming on Jerusalem. They’ve already experienced the judgment promised in the covenant ratification of Leviticus 26, exile, but Yahweh is saying there are more Israelites to be exiled. It must be that those already exiled think God’s final judgment has not come, that the city of Jerusalem and the Temple are still above judgment and their hope for staying a nation. But that is not the case.

The word of Yahweh came to me: 2 “Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people. They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people.

3 “Therefore, son of man, pack your belongings for exile and in the daytime, as they watch, set out and go from where you are to another place. Perhaps they will understand, though they are a rebellious people. 4 During the daytime, while they watch, bring out your belongings packed for exile. Then in the evening, while they are watching, go out like those who go into exile. 5 While they watch, dig through the wall and take your belongings out through it. 6 Put them on your shoulder as they are watching and carry them out at dusk. Cover your face so that you cannot see the land, for I have made you a sign to the Israelites.”

7 So I did as I was commanded. During the day I brought out my things packed for exile. Then in the evening I dug through the wall with my hands. I took my belongings out at dusk, carrying them on my shoulders while they watched.

Ezekiel is used again as an object lesson to the exiles of how the inhabitants of Jerusalem will seek to flee from the city under siege to go to another land. The exiles need to know that their rebellion is still being reckoned with and there is no soon return to Israel.

8 In the morning the word of Yahweh came to me: 9 “Son of man, did not the Israelites, that rebellious people, ask you, ‘What are you doing?’

10 “Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Yahweh 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.

12 “The prince among them will put his things on his shoulder at dusk and leave, and a hole will be dug in the wall for him to go through. He will cover his face so that he cannot see the land. 13 I will spread my net for him, and he will be caught in my snare; I will bring him to Babylonia, the land of the Chaldeans, but he will not see it, and there he will die. 14 I will scatter to the winds all those around him—his staff and all his troops—and I will pursue them with drawn sword.

15 “They will know that I am Yahweh, when I disperse them among the nations and scatter them through the countries. 16 But I will spare a few of them from the sword, famine and plague, so that in the nations where they go they may acknowledge all their detestable practices. Then they will know that I am Yahweh.”

Another word from Yahweh comes to Ezekiel concerning the prince, Zedekiah, in Jerusalem. As the Expositor’s Bible Commentary notes, Zedekiah was called “the prince” because he was not the legitimate king. Jehoiachin was the rightful king, but as he was in Babylon, Zedekiah had been appointed by the Babylonians to rule in Israel. As Ezekiel prophesied, he did rebel against Babylon, tried to escape from Jerusalem as it was under siege, and was captured by Nebuchadnezzar and had his eyes gouged out, so that in fact, he never did see Babylon and died there in captivity. 

“Lest the foreign nations misunderstand Judah’s dispersion, God had the exiles testify that their abominations precipitated the deportations. In this way the nations would realize that the Lord was holy and righteous, and that he cared for his people. This would correct the common notion in the ancient Near East that a nation that was conquered was serving gods who were either powerless or no longer cared about their people.” (Expositor’s)

17 The word of Yahweh came to me: 18 “Son of man, tremble as you eat your food, and shudder in fear as you drink your water. 19 Say to the people of the land: ‘This is what the Sovereign Yahweh 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 Yahweh.’”

A third word from Yahweh comes to Ezekiel. He reenacts the fearfulness of those who remain in the land. It will be a place of violence and desolation. No one will be happy that they did not get deported as the others had.

21 The word of Yahweh came to me: 22 “Son of man, what is this proverb you have in the land of Israel: ‘The days go by and every vision comes to nothing’? 23 Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Yahweh says: I am going to put an end to this proverb, and they will no longer quote it in Israel.’ 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 Yahweh 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 Yahweh.’”

Yet another word from Yahweh comes to Ezekiel to counter the exiles’ rebellious opinion that none of these visions was going to come true. Prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah had been proclaiming this destruction of Jerusalem and because of God’s gracious patience and desire for His people to repent, He had delayed the fulfillment of it. False prophets had contradicted God’s prophets, but Yahweh wants Israel to know that there is no delay any longer. Judgment is coming.

26 The word of Yahweh came to me: 27 “Son of man, the Israelites are saying, ‘The vision he sees is for many years from now, and he prophesies about the distant future.’

28 “Therefore say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Yahweh says: None of my words will be delayed any longer; whatever I say will be fulfilled, declares the Sovereign Yahweh.’” (Ezekiel 12)

A fifth message from Yahweh corrects the Israelites’ rationalization that the judgment coming is in the distant future. Again, no delay now. We look for any rationalization against God’s judgment coming on us. We don’t like to acknowledge how worthy we are of judgment when we reject the One who made us.