Read Ezekiel 24:1-14
What a turning point! Everything that Ezekiel has been sharing in his prophetic ministry will now come to pass. God’s announcement alerts Ezekiel that the siege on Jerusalem is beginning. No more wishful thinking that God will change his mind. Ezekiel lived hundreds of miles away, but God gave him the news firsthand.
If he hadn’t been taken into exile already, Ezekiel could be one of those being destroyed. Talk about putting things into perspective! Can you imagine how surreal it would be to get such news? It’s possible Ezekiel had family left behind in Jerusalem. Soon they, along with friends and acquaintances, would soon be no more. How do you wrestle with news like this?
The LORD gave Ezekiel a song of sorts about a cooking pot perhaps to help “soften” the blow of this news. This song is full of bitter irony. Jerusalem is depicted as a despicable cauldron. The meat represents everyone left in Jerusalem who will boil to death in this pot. Nobody could escape God’s wrath now! The corruption of the “bloody city” will be revealed.
God means business as he piles on the wood to heat up this cooking pot of doom. We see a side of God we may not reflect on often—his intensity. We tend to think of God as loving and wise. But we see that intensity in other ways as well. After all, God sent his only Son to die for us—that’s quite intense. Sit with the thought of that sacrifice for just a moment.
The same angry, jealous God we see stoking the flames of Jerusalem’s destruction also loves us with that same intensity. It’s incredible isn’t it? Have you ever loved another that you would lay down your life for them like Jesus did for us? In John 15:13-14, Jesus is speaking when he says, “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.” Jesus not only defines what love looks like among friends, but he tells us how we can be his friend.
God’s expectations of us aren’t hard, but they’re extremely difficult. That probably doesn’t make sense literally, but it’s true. God wants us to love him and love others. The act of loving can be difficult when we let “stuff” stand in our way. God knew that would happen and warned us about idols.
Take some time today to reflect on how intensely God loves you. How do you respond to that kind of love?
Let’s pray. LORD you astound me and amaze me with your power and tenderness. I love when you reveal yourself to the world around me in ways that I can see. Thank you for how you are moving in our world even when we can’t see. I know you are there fighting my battles for me. There is so much opposition in this world for people of faith. Give us strength LORD. May we make a difference for you showing the world how you do all things with intensity. You are my king forever. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
