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luggage

Ezekiel 12:1-6 (JDV)

Ezekiel 12:1 The word of Yahveh happened to me:
Ezekiel 12:2 “Son of Adam, you are living in the middle of a rebellious household. They have eyes to see but do not see, and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious household.
Ezekiel 12:3 “Now you, son of Adam, get your bags ready for exile and go into exile in their sight during the day. You will go into exile from your place to another place while they watch; perhaps they will understand, though they are a rebellious house.
Ezekiel 12:4 During the day, bring out your bags like an exile’s bags while they look on. Then in the evening go out in their sight like those going into exile.
Ezekiel 12:5 As they watch, dig through the wall and take the bags out through it.
Ezekiel 12:6 And while they look on, lift the bags to your shoulder and take them out in the dark; cover your face so that you cannot see the land because I have given you as a sign to the house of Israel.”

luggage

Ezekiel was told to pack his luggage daily and nightly. He was to pretend to go into exile while the people looked on. God was trying to get their attention. He was telling the people that the way they were going, exile was the next step.

I have lived in lots of different places, but everywhere I go I find locals who have never moved from the house they were born in. Ezekiel probably knew lots of people like that — people that cannot imagine living someplace else. Nothing is guaranteed.

LORD, give us hearts that long to stay in your will, so we don’t have to experience the uncertainty of exile.