Ezekiel

Ezekiel 12: God will perform His word

Begin in prayer

Before we read the signs of exile, let us put aside the thought that God's warnings can be ignored. Ask the Lord to subdue our distractions, be present with our family and reveal Christ to us as we read Ezekiel 12.

Yahweh answered me, “Write the vision, and make it plain on tablets, that he who runs may read it.

Habakkuk 2:2

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Give us understanding of Your faithful word and show us Christ, whose call we need to hear today. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

God tells Ezekiel to pack belongings, dig through a wall and leave with his face covered as a sign of exile. The prophet obeys in the sight of the rebellious people. God explains that Jerusalem's prince will be caught and taken to Babylon, where he will die without seeing it. His helpers will be scattered, though a few survive to declare their abominations among the nations. Ezekiel must also eat and drink with trembling to show the fear coming upon a violent land. God rejects the sayings that His visions fail or lie far off, and promises to perform His word without further delay.

As you read Ezekiel 12, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God will perform His word of judgment, despite the sayings of rebellious people.

God makes Ezekiel's movements a sign for people who have eyes and ears but refuse to understand. Carrying belongings through a wall in darkness shows the coming exile of Jerusalem's prince and his people. God will catch the prince in His net and bring him to Babylon, where he will die without seeing it. The prince will cover his face because he will not see the land with his eyes (verse 12). God will scatter his helpers, draw the sword after them and preserve a few to declare their abominations among the nations. Trembling over bread and water gives another sign, showing the fear coming on a violent land. People claim that visions fail or concern a distant future, treating God's warning as something they can put aside. The LORD answers that He will speak and perform His word in their own days, with no further delay.

How does Ezekiel 12 show us that God will perform His word of judgment, despite the sayings of rebellious people?

God gives signs for people who refuse to hear.

Ezekiel carries his belongings through a hole in the wall in the dark (verses 1 to 7). God calls this a sign to Israel. The rebellious people must see a picture of the exile His word announces.

God will carry out the exile He announces.

God will catch Jerusalem's prince and take him to Babylon, where he will die without seeing it (verses 10 to 16). His helpers will be scattered. A few will remain alive to declare their abominations among the nations.

God will silence excuses about His word.

Some people say that visions fail, while others push their fulfillment into a distant future (verses 21 to 28). God will end these sayings. The word He speaks will be performed in their own days. God will end false visions and flattering divination in Israel (verse 24).

Memorize

For I am Yahweh. I will speak, and the word that I speak will be performed.

Ezekiel 12:25

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, what warning am I putting off, and have I turned to Jesus for rescue?

The LORD says, “the word that I speak will be performed.” The people may repeat sayings that dismiss the warning, but those sayings cannot stop Him. The exile He announces will come in their days. We must hear God's word with that seriousness.

God's word also tells us of His Son, who came to rescue sinners from the judgment they deserve. Jesus took His people's sins upon Himself and died for them. He paid for their sins in full, completing the salvation they could never earn. Then God raised Him to life, victorious over death.

Please do not put His call aside. Come to Him now, turning from sin and trusting His finished work. He forgives all who seek Him with repentant faith. The risen Savior receives those who come today, and His faithful word gives repentant sinners a sure hope.

Parent's note

Tell your children that God's word will stand, and Jesus died and rose to save those who trust Him. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for His faithful and effective word, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

Remember therefore how you have received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If therefore you won’t watch, I will come as a thief, and you won’t know what hour I will come upon you.

Revelation 3:3

Lord, thank You that the word You speak is true and will be performed. Forgive our excuses for ignoring You, and help each one repent and believe in Jesus today. Please make us quick to listen and willing to obey Your Word this week. Amen.