Ezekiel's Wife Dies

Some of the things the Lord asked the prophets were difficult to understand. Perhaps at the top of the list is what the Lord asks of Ezekiel in chapter 24. 

Ezekiel 24:15–18 (ESV) The word of the LORD came to me: 16 “Son of man, behold, I am about to take the delight of your eyes away from you at a stroke; yet you shall not mourn or weep, nor shall your tears run down. 17 Sigh, but not aloud; make no mourning for the dead. Bind on your turban, and put your shoes on your feet; do not cover your lips, nor eat the bread of men.” 18 So I spoke to the people in the morning, and at evening my wife died. And on the next morning I did as I was commanded.

The NLT has it described in even more striking detail. 

Ezekiel 24:16 (NLT) “Son of man, with one blow I will take away your dearest treasure. Yet you must not show any sorrow at her death. Do not weep; let there be no tears.

Now, the people are understandably confused by all this. But Ezekiel tells them his life is a sign for them. They will lose the delight of their hearts - the temple will be destroyed,d and the children they left behind in the land will suffer death and destruction. 

Ezekiel 24:21 (ESV) ‘Say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the pride of your power, the delight of your eyes, and the yearning of your soul, and your sons and your daughters whom you left behind shall fall by the sword.

Then, the people will respond to this event like Ezekiel was commanded to respond to his wife's death. 

Ezekiel 24:22–23 (ESV) And you shall do as I have done; you shall not cover your lips, nor eat the bread of men. 23 Your turbans shall be on your heads and your shoes on your feet; you shall not mourn or weep, but you shall rot away in your iniquities and groan to one another.

The people would not be allowed to mourn the loss of the Temple and their children, for their mourning would seem like sedition to their Babylonian captors. God was illustrating the tough spot their sins had put them in. Their temple was now gone, and they could not mourn. 

One wonders why the Lord chose to do this to Ezekiel? Shouldn't the prophet be rewarded for his work for the Lord and not suffer? The truth is we rationalize from a human and Earthly point of view. The death of Ezekiel's wife was something that would occur no matter what. God used the moment of her death to symbolize the people's plight due to their sin and rebellion. Yet for Ezekiel's wife, she would have been instantly brought into Abraham's bosom and, through Christ, entered into glory. Death is not a disaster for those who know the Lord. The real disaster is not being prepared for it or rebelling against God when it arrives. 

The solemn nature of this parable in Ezekiel's life points to the sad state of affairs in the hearts of Israel. Their true life - communion with the Lord - was gone. All that remained was the careless treatment they received at the hands of Nebuchadnezzar. They were learning the hard way that when men run from God, they do not run into life; they run into further and further demise. 

One last sign is given to the people through Ezekiel. His silence at the loss of his wife would end the moment he heard of Jerusalem's destruction.

Ezekiel 24:25–27 (ESV) “As for you, son of man, surely on the day when I take from them their stronghold, their joy and glory, the delight of their eyes and their soul’s desire, and also their sons and daughters, 26 on that day a fugitive will come to you to report to you the news. 27 On that day your mouth will be opened to the fugitive, and you shall speak and be no longer mute. So you will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am the LORD.”

What is the meaning of this? It is that Ezekiel's message will turn from judgment to hope. God would not leave Israel in exile, nor would their city be laid waste. The prophet's Word from now on would be one of encouragement and redemption.

In the end, that is always the message of God's prophets. While the Lord disciplines, the Lord ultimately delivers, and a new beginning is approaching. In some ways, we can experience these seasons of chastisement from God. They hurt, but they are for our good. He is treating us as sons (See Hebrews 12:6).