Year of the Bible: Part Seven of TwelveSample

A Human Model of Bearing the Sins of the People

Ezekiel was taken to Babylon in the first of three waves of refugees. God commissioned him to warn His people of the remaining waves of exile to come and gave Ezekiel some bizarre ways of depicting future events. These revelations were parables that demonstrated God's declarations through drama, which probably got the people's attention in a way that was not as commonplace as regular teaching or prophecy.

However, though their attention may have been captured, the people chose not to listen to Ezekiel. He demonstrated much of what would happen to the people of Israel, and they basically ignored him. Jeremiah did the same and got a lot of backlash, but Ezekiel got crickets.

The warning God gave through Ezekiel showed God was, once again, imploring the people to turn away from idols and embrace Him as the one true God! Can you imagine hearing God's voice, preaching the message He gave to you, and getting nothing? Ezekiel had to be discouraged.

Jesus encountered many of the same responses. The people did not recognize Him for who He was. Many did not embrace the message He brought and even rejected Him for who He was. Centuries before Jesus walked on Earth, Ezekiel obeyed God by portraying the signs God wanted the people to see, and he was ignored—even rejected for a message they didn't want to believe. Ezekiel submitted himself to model what "bearing the sins of the people" would look like. Jesus bore the sins of the people. Yet, many did not embrace the Prophet or the fulfillment of the promise.

Question: Is there someone in your life who really needs to see and experience Jesus through the way you live today?

Prayer: Father, please give me eyes to see and ears to hear the message you are speaking to me and my circle of influence. Please use me to speak life and truth to those around me. Help me to show you to those around me and give them hearts that respond to you today! In Jesus' name. Amen!