Ezekiel 12, The Time is Now

Ezekiel has had a vision of idolatry and destruction in Jerusalem. These visions are typically followed by instructions from God....

Ezekiel 12:1-6, Packed for exile

The word of the LORD came to me: 

"Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people. They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people.

 

"Therefore, son of man, pack your belongings for exile and in the daytime, as they watch, set out and go from where you are to another place. Perhaps they will understand, though they are a rebellious house. During the daytime, while they watch, bring out your belongings packed for exile. Then in the evening, while they are watching, go out like those who go into exile.  While they watch, dig through the wall and take your belongings out through it. Put them on your shoulder as they are watching and carry them out at dusk. Cover your face so that you cannot see the land, for I have made you a sign to the house of Israel."   

Ezekiel is to pack for exile and then make sure the others see him doing that. He is a "sign", acting out an upcoming experience for Israel. This includes covering his face to represent traveling in darkness.

Ezekiel 12:7, As commanded

So I did as I was commanded. During the day I brought out my things packed for exile. Then in the evening I dug through the wall with my hands. I took my belongings out at dusk, carrying them on my shoulders while they watched.   

Ezekiel reports that he then did as he was commanded. The elders watch him do this. Ezekiel's actions simulate fairly closely the upcoming actions of King Zedekiah, as he flees the city of Jerusalem.

Ezekiel 12:8-14, Prince to be captured

In the morning the word of the LORD came to me: 

"Son of man, did not that rebellious house of Israel ask you, `What are you doing?'  

"Say to them, `This is what the Sovereign LORD says: This oracle concerns the prince in Jerusalem and the whole house of Israel who are there.'  

Say to them, `I am a sign to you.' "As I have done, so it will be done to them. They will go into exile as captives. "The prince among them will put his things on his shoulder at dusk and leave, and a hole will be dug in the wall for him to go through. He will cover his face so that he cannot see the land. I will spread my net for him, and he will be caught in my snare; I will bring him to Babylonia, the land of the Chaldeans, but he will not see it, and there he will die. I will scatter to the winds all those around him--his staff and all his troops--and I will pursue them with drawn sword. 

Ezekiel's actions are to demonstrate what will happen to King Zedekiah. (See 2 Kings 25:4-7.) Zedekiah is identified as a prince because his father, Jehoiachin, is still alive, having been captured and transported to Babylon earlier (2 Kings 24:8-12.) Zedekiah will slip out of Jerusalem and be captured. 

Versions of the Hebrew word yatsa, showing up twice in verse 12 (translated "leave"  and "go through" by the NIV) is more literally "brought out" and was used to describe the Israelites being brought out of Egypt in the Exodus. Zedekiah may believe he is slipping away but really, like his backpack, he is being brought out into the wilderness.

Ezekiel 12:15-16, Spare a few

"They will know that I am the LORD, when I disperse them among the nations and scatter them through the countries. But I will spare a few of them from the sword, famine and  plague, so that in the nations where they go they may acknowledge all their detestable practices. Then they will  know that I am the LORD."   

Through this prophecy and the invasion of the city, the people will know who God is. And He will spare a remnant.

Ezekiel 12:17-20, Tremble and shudder

The word of the LORD came to me: 

"Son of man, tremble as you eat your food, and shudder in fear as you drink your water. Say to the people of the land: `This is what the Sovereign LORD says about those living in Jerusalem and in the land of Israel: They will eat their food in anxiety and drink their water in despair, for their land will be stripped of  everything in it because of the violence of all who live there. The inhabited towns will be laid waste and the land will be desolate. Then you will know that I am the LORD.'"   

Ezekiel is to tremble and shudder as he eats and drinks, modeling the reactions happening in Jerusalem.

Ezekiel 12:21-25, Days go by...

The word of the LORD came to me: 

"Son of man, what is this proverb you have in the land of Israel: `The days go by and every vision comes to nothing'? Say to them, `This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am going to put an end to this proverb, and they will no longer quote it in Israel.' 

Say to them, `The days are near when every vision will be fulfilled. For there will be no more false visions or flattering divinations among the people of Israel. But I the LORD will speak what I will, and it shall be  fulfilled without delay. For in your days, you rebellious house, I will fulfill whatever I say, declares the Sovereign LORD.'"   

This word of YHWH begins a new speech that runs through the end of the next chapter, addressing a number of false prophets. 

Tbe people have created a proverb that shows their cynicism and skepticism about prophecies. That skepticism is about to be changed.

As Duguid points out, the effect of false prophecies is to make people skeptical of all prophecies.

Ezekiel 12:26-28, No delay

The word of the LORD came to me: 

"Son of man, the house of Israel is saying, `The vision he sees is for many years from now, and he prophesies about the distant future.' 

"Therefore say to them, `This is what the Sovereign LORD says: None of my words will be delayed any longer; whatever I say will be fulfilled, declares the Sovereign LORD.'" 

The people's skepticism is based on beliefs that even if prophesies are true, they are always far off. But there will not be any more delay, says God. The time is now.

Some Random Thoughts

The people of Judah, hearing message after message from false prophets, no longer believe any prophet. In the novel Last Battle, by C. S. Lewis, a band of dwarfs are tricked by a fake lion. Upon learning that the creature is merely a donkey covered with lion skin, the dwarfs decide that they no longer believe in any lions, even when the great lion, Aslan appears. In modern American society, the effect of disinformation and false claims is to make people skeptical of all information and all claims.