Monday - Ezekiel 4 - Playing in the Dirt

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ZEKIEL was literally commanded by God to construct a miniature version of Jerusalem in order to deliver prophecies to his fellow exiles. The assignment was simple enough. He had to draw a map of Jerusalem on a brick. Then, he had to construct a little battle scene around that brick (Ezekiel 4:2). And, strangest of all, he had to lie on his left side for 390 days and on his right side 40 days with an iron pan between himself and that brick (FYI, on his left for Israel and on his right for Judah).  During this time, he was to eat a very specific diet of a limited amount of water and plain bread cooked over burning cow poop. This represented the hardness of the plight of those who remained in Jerusalem during the days when Ezekiel was prophesying.

Isn't it amazing that God was willing to condescend this low in order to communicate clearly to His chosen ones? Can you imagine what must have went through Ezekiel's mind as he lay there by this brick for days and months? In a sense, he was just playing in the dirt, but God's plan for Ezekiel's model was big and significant. This reminds me of that great old song, "Little is much, when God is in it; labor not for wealth or fame. There's a crown, and you can win it... if you'll go in Jesus name." Ezekiel's eccentric ministry was strange indeed, but it was exactly what God desired, so it was good.