More Thoughts on Ezekiel

I've been thinking more about Ezekiel as I continue to slog my way through it. Yes, it really is a slog--I dislike it, and this is perhaps the first time I've ever truly disliked a book of the Bible.

I'm on to the part now about the new Israel. How does this fit into the New Testament, where God gets rid of the temple as the sole place of worship? Or is it referring to the Israel that was rebuilt after their 70 years of Babylonian exile? And why does God get so fixated on numbers and dimensions and borders in this section? (Or was that Ezekiel?) Perhaps so people could see when the words came true?

This Daily Worship post, written by Sacredise, is about Ezekiel 2:8-3:11. I really liked their interpretation, on Ezekiel's calling and how God uniquely equipped him for his ministry to the Israelites.

I'm not sure why I disliked it so much this time through, because I've definitely read it before. Anyone else have thoughts about Ezekiel?

Thoughts about Ezekiel

I've been reading through Ezekiel for the past few weeks, and honestly, it's been tough. God is really angry and scary. I guess God can get angry, but I don't think about it much (avoiding it?). I feel like God just does a lot of threatening and destroying, and I'm not sure that's the best way to convince people you're right. I mean, God is right, I'm not arguing with that. But does being threatened help? I can see disasters bringing people closer to God; seeing how little control each of us has over our own lives can definitely bring you closer to God. But it can also alienate people.

Do I worship an angry God? I know He's not all anger. When He unleashes His anger, though... wow. Has He done that recently, and just not announced it quite as much? Or have the announcements been forgotten in our secular society? Or was it not God smiting directly so much as their sin leading to weaknesses in their society, a lack of dependence on God, and lots of pride that led them to get into things they couldn't handle?

Then there's the passage with Eziekel's wife (Ezekiel 24:25-25)... Did God seriously just kill Ezekiel's wife??? Or was she already dying? And not being allowed to mourn (or not publicly)... wow. Actually what struck me was how Ezekiel didn't seem to be angry about this. I would be so angry! I still get angry when God tells me to do things that are against my "plan" for my life...