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Day 5 Ezekiel 5 Ezekiel 5:1 And thou, son of man, take thee a sharp knife, take thee a barber’s razor, and cause it to pass upon thine head and upon thy beard: then take thee balances to weigh, and divide the hair. 2 Thou shalt burn with fire a third part in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are fulfilled: and thou shalt take a third part, and smite about it with a knife: and a third part thou shalt scatter in the wind; and I will draw out a sword after them. 3 Thou shalt also take thereof a few in number, and bind them in thy skirts. 4 Then take of them again, and cast them into the midst of the fire, and burn them in the fire; for thereof shall a fire come forth into all the house of Israel. 5 Thus says the Lord GOD; This is Jerusalem: I have set it in the midst of the nations and countries that are round about her. 6 And she hath changed my judgments into wickedness more than the nations, and my statutes more than the countries that are round about her: for they have refused my judgments and my statutes, they have not walked in them. 7 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD; Because ye multiplied more than the nations that are round about you, and have not walked in my statutes, neither have kept my judgments, neither have done according to the judgments of the nations that are round about you; 8 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, am against thee, and will execute judgments in the midst of thee in the sight of the nations. 9 And I will do in thee that which I have not done, and whereunto I will not do any more the like, because of all thine abominations. 10 Therefore the fathers shall eat the sons in the midst of thee, and the sons shall eat their fathers; and I will execute judgments in thee, and the whole remnant of thee will I scatter into all the winds. 11 Wherefore, as I live, says the Lord GOD; Surely, because thou hast defiled my sanctuary with all thy detestable things, and with all thine abominations, therefore will I also diminish thee; neither shall mine eye spare, neither will I have any pity. 12 A third part of thee shall die with the pestilence, and with famine shall they be consumed in the midst of thee: and a third part shall fall by the sword round about thee; and I will scatter a third part into all the winds, and I will draw out a sword after them. 13 Thus shall mine anger be accomplished, and I will cause my fury to rest upon them, and I will be comforted: and they shall know that I the LORD have spoken it in my zeal, when I have accomplished my fury in them. 14 Moreover I will make thee waste, and a reproach among the nations that are round about thee, in the sight of all that pass by. 15 So it shall be a reproach and a taunt, an instruction and an astonishment unto the nations that are round about thee, when I shall execute judgments in thee in anger and in fury and in furious rebukes. I the LORD have spoken it. 16 When I shall send upon them the evil arrows of famine, which shall be for their destruction, and which I will send to destroy you: and I will increase the famine upon you, and will break your staff of bread: 17 So will I send upon you famine and evil beasts, and they shall bereave thee; and pestilence and blood shall pass through thee; and I will bring the sword upon thee. I the LORD have spoken it. Has anyone tried to get your attention about certain matters in your life, but you refuse to listen? Does trouble follow you wherever you go? God told Ezekiel to show Israel another sign of his judgment on them. He was to shave off the hair on his head and his beard. When he did so, he was to burn a third of it with fire, scatter a third to the wind, and bind up a third in his garments, and then take that third and burn it in fire. God was bringing judgment on Israel for all her abominations against him. They had not heeded his laws or statutes, but had worshiped false gods, forsaking the God who loved and cared for them. Therefore, he would send sword, pestilence, and famine after them. Consider those who know about God, but do nothing about committing their lives to him. God brings his judgment against them as well. Those are the people who face God’s fiercest judgment, as seen in the Tribulation, when again he causes a third of the earth, a third of the people, and a third of the stars to face his judgment. God’s judgment against Israel was to bring them back to himself. He said he would never bring that kind of judgment against Israel again. It was a one-time deal. When Israel returned to God, he brought them back from their captivity, and they have served him since. They have not wandered away from God in all the years since their exile and captivity. What does it take for you to turn to the God who loves you and gave himself for you? How much trouble must you see in your life before you turn your life over to God? As Christians, you know what it took to turn your life over to him and commit every day to his care. Since that day, you have tried to talk to those you know, to show them the difference God has made in your life, hoping they too will listen, instead of facing God’s judgment. God is not willing that one person should perish in Hell, but that everyone would know and accept him and the life he offers them. 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (KJV) God sent prophets to his people to show them what would happen if they did not turn back to God. When their sin was a stench in his nostrils he fulfilled his promise to them by sending them into captivity, and still they did not seek out God. Still, God sent his prophets to the people to show them by signs what he would do if they did not return to him. It took a lot of persuasion, but Israel did finally return to the Lord their God. If you have heard God calling out to you, if you have seen trouble in your lives, if Satan has spread his lies in your heart, causing you to hesitate in committing your life to him, then you could be part of the judgment God will bring in the Tribulation. I urge you not to wait until it’s to late to commit your life to God. Do it now, and God’s peace will reign in your life, and he will bless you, nurture you, and give you the peace that passes all understanding. If you have wandered from God, if your hedge of protection is fallen from you, if you’re seeing trouble in your life, if you feel Satan coming at you with one situation after another, God is trying to get your attention and bring you back to his side. God does not want to bring his judgment against his people, those who accepted his Son, as Savior and Lord. However, just as he had no choice in bringing his judgment against Israel until they returned to him, he will allow Satan to come against you until you turn your hearts and minds back to him. God loves you. He wants to give you his blessings during your lifetime and eternal life when this life ends. Will you recommit your life to God today? Will you stop the trouble in your life, and grasp the hand of him who loves you, and allow him to lead the way? God said he would never judge Israel again. He will not judge you again either, if you return to him, or commit your life to him. Do it today and watch God turn your troubles into triumphs. Let’s pray: Father, your will be done in my life. Keep your hand in mine, so I do not stray from you. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen. Copyright © 23 December 2017 by Valerie Routhieaux Image courtesy of Pixabay