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Ezekiel 12 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
“Son of man, what is this proverb you people have concerning the land of Israel, saying, ‘The days are long and every vision fails’?
Ezekiel 12:22 NASB
“Son of man, behold, the house of Israel is saying, ‘The vision that he sees is for many years from now, and he prophesies of times far off.’
Ezekiel 12:27 NASB
In the same way people today scoff at the idea of Jesus’ Second Coming, the people of Ezekiel’s time refused to believe the prophecies right before their eyes. God gives Ezekiel a detailed task to illustrate just what will happen in the near future. It’s not good. I found myself wondering, “Why would God continue to warn such stubborn and rebellious people?”
He could have ended it swiftly and immediately. He could have saved Himself from hearing all the insults and chatter from these arrogant complainers. He could have taken men like Ezekiel, Daniel, and Jeremiah (along with a few other faithful followers) and just discarded the rest. God was patient. He gave them prophets and direction even though they refused to see it. He continued to warn them even though they cast it aside as something far off in the distance.
Let’s admit it, God doesn’t handle things like we think He should. He waits too long. He doesn’t wait long enough. He shows too much grace. He doesn’t show enough grace. These are the complaints we hear (and sometimes think) way too often. But we aren’t in control. He is. And sometimes I know His delays are done intentionally so that we are forced to let go of our own way of thinking in order to bend our knee to His.
Where in your life are you complaining about God’s slowness? Have you lost faith in His power, or are you leaning into Him like never before? The purpose of God’s directions to Ezekiel was in hope of a few people realizing their error and coming before the King in repentance. The same is true today.