The Long Patience of God

Having seen the glory of God depart Jerusalem's temple and settle in place among the exiles, Ezekiel is freshly commissioned to be a voice for the Lord amidst this rebellious house. 

Ezekiel 12:1–2 (ESV) The word of the LORD came to me: 2 “Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, who have eyes to see, but see not, who have ears to hear, but hear not, for they are a rebellious house.

Ezekiel is told to publicly leave Jerusalem as a symbol of the Lord's departure from the city. 

Ezekiel 12:3–6 (ESV) As for you, son of man, prepare for yourself an exile’s baggage, and go into exile by day in their sight. You shall go like an exile from your place to another place in their sight. Perhaps they will understand, though they are a rebellious house. 4 You shall bring out your baggage by day in their sight, as baggage for exile, and you shall go out yourself at evening in their sight, as those do who must go into exile. 5 In their sight dig through the wall, and bring your baggage out through it. 6 In their sight you shall lift the baggage upon your shoulder and carry it out at dusk. You shall cover your face that you may not see the land, for I have made you a sign for the house of Israel.”

The prophets of God were also the props God used to teach His people. In this case, Ezekiel is the prop of the Lord's further activity among Israel. They, too, shall be exiled and join the first wave of departures in Babylon. 

Ezekiel 12:10–11 (ESV) Say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: This oracle concerns the prince in Jerusalem and all the house of Israel who are in it.’ 11 Say, ‘I am a sign for you: as I have done, so shall it be done to them. They shall go into exile, into captivity.’

Ezekiel is further instructed to imbibe the tensions of the people during this wait for God's hand of judgment through the Babylonian army coming to take them captive. 

Ezekiel 12:17–19 (ESV) And the word of the LORD came to me: 18 “Son of man, eat your bread with quaking, and drink water with trembling and with anxiety. 19 And say to the people of the land, Thus says the Lord GOD concerning the inhabitants of Jerusalem in the land of Israel: They shall eat their bread with anxiety, and drink water in dismay. In this way her land will be stripped of all it contains, on account of the violence of all those who dwell in it.

Ezekiel is to embody the emotional state of the soon-to-be exiles in Israel. They are to expect judgment at any moment because of the sin of the land. 

If there's one thing the long prophets of the Bible teach us, it is that sin can really blind us. God waits and waits for Israel to repent. All they do is get worse. Isaiah ran around the country stripped of clothing, Ezekiel disgustingly ate his food and tied himself with ropes for them to see. Here, he digs through a wall and eats with trembling, and they still do not listen. 

They were so hard of hearing that when the judgment was foretold, they assumed it would be many days from their own time. Mind you, this is after a first wave of exiles has already been deported. They see the dam break before their eyes and still refuse to listen. For this denial, God rebukes them as well.

Ezekiel 12:26–28 (ESV) And the word of the LORD came to me: 27 “Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, ‘The vision that he sees is for many days from now, and he prophesies of times far off.’ 28 Therefore say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: None of my words will be delayed any longer, but the word that I speak will be performed, declares the Lord GOD.”

Make no mistake, these pictures of Israel's demise is a preview of the World's ending. Peter states that the last days will be filled with the same mockery as in Israel during Ezekiel's ministry.

2 Peter 3:4 (ESV) They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.”

God's judgment is coming but why is it not yet here? Peter explains:

2 Peter 3:8–9 (ESV) But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

His patience is beyond compare. He longs to see men saved. And as long as the hand of judgment is stayed, the church has a mission to accomplish - REACH THEM with the Gospel of God's grace.