Understanding Ezekiel’s Dramatic Sign-Acts
Ezekiel, a prophet of the Old Testament, was commanded by God to perform a series of dramatic sign-acts to convey the message of judgment and redemption to the people of Israel. These sign-acts were not just visual aids but were designed to reach people’s wills and hearts, enabling them to feel the truth.
The First Sign-Act: A City Under Siege
Ezekiel’s first sign-act involved creating a model of Jerusalem under siege. He took a clay brick, drew a map of Jerusalem on it, and then created a diorama of a besieged city around it. This sign-act depicted the reality of the imminent judgment on Jerusalem from the Lord. The Babylonians may have been the ones besieging the city, but it was God who had decreed the city’s destruction.
The Second Sign-Act: Bearing Punishment
The second sign-act required Ezekiel to lie down next to the model of Jerusalem for a lengthy period, first on one side and then on the other. This sign-act represented the accumulation of Israel’s sin and the resulting punishment. Ezekiel was tied with ropes, symbolizing the confinement of the siege victims. He bore the punishment of the house of Israel for 390 days and then the house of Judah for 40 days.
A Glimmer of Hope
Although the focus of the sign-acts was on the reality of judgment, there was a glimmer of hope. The total length of Ezekiel’s confinement (430 days) matched the years of Israel’s sojourn in Egypt. This hinted at the possibility of a new exodus at the end of this period of judgment.
The Third Sign-Act: Siege Rations
The third part
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