[Preacher] Pastor Jung Myung Seok
[Scriptures] Ezekiel 12:1-6
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 people. 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 Israelites.” 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.
In the morning the word of the LORD came to me: “Son of man, did not the Israelites, that rebellious people, ask you, ‘What are you doing?’ “Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: This prophecy concerns the prince in Jerusalem and all the Israelites 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. “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.”
When you look at Ezekiel 12 in the Old Testament, God said the following to the Prophet Ezekiel.
“For I have made you <a sign> to the Israelites.”
God made the Prophet Ezekiel, a man of God, move his dwelling from one place to another so that He could enlighten the rebellious people. He made him look like <a captive> and act like <an exile who was being taken away>.
God was hoping that when they saw the Prophet Ezekiel moving from one place to another, they might get the hint about what <God was going to do in the future> since they had the ability to think. This was <the sign that God had shown them through the Prophet Ezekiel>.
There was <judgment> according to God’s words.
Just as <the Prophet Ezekiel> did according to God’s Word, <the king of Jerusalem> and <the Israelites> acted like an exile becoming the captives to Babylon like Ezekiel and were taken outside the city.
Just like that, God shows <the good or bad things that will occur in the future> by showing them first on ‘a miniature scale’ as <a revelation>, <an omen>, or < a sign> through <a prophet, man of mission, or a Messiah sent by God>.
After that, He takes action on ‘a magnified scale’ in big ways according to that revelation, omen, or sign.
The same is true with individuals.
God shows <the good or bad things that will occur in the future> first to an individual
as <a revelation, an omen, or a sign> on ‘a miniature scale.’
After that, He ‘magnifies it’ and carries it out in the same way.
Whenever God shows ‘an omen or a sign’ with <an intended purpose>, the important thing is <the message He is enlightening you about through what He is showing>.
You have to realize that message correctly. Then you will know ‘His intended purpose’ correctly.
Because each thing in creation has its own unique quality, God shows us through ‘that particular creation’ even though it may be small. He shows ‘revelations and signs’ through <dreams> and then carries out ‘His purpose’ in <reality>.
From now on, you should try to figure out the the content of <what He has shown you> by knowing <the unique qualities of His creations> and making ‘the connection to reality.’
