Friday – Prophets

Reading – Ezekiel 40-42

Highlight Verse:

“He said to me, “Son of man, watch and listen. Pay close attention to everything I show you. You have been brought here so I can show you many things. Then you will return to the people of Israel and tell them everything you have seen.””
‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭40‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

When the Bible says to pay close attention, my mind goes, “Oh, maybe I should pay close attention here.”

In all seriousness, sentences like this grab my attention and I brace for something mind blowing.

And then we get a detailed description of a temple.

Some say the description was figurative. But why would God spend the next nine chapters in detailed description if it was just figurative.

Some say it describes the temple as it will be in heaven. I have a hard time with that because I believe we will be in the direct presence of God. Why would we need a temple and priests?

Others say it was meant as plans for the temple and the land for the Israelites when they returned to the land.

You could say that’s not true because the Israelites did not follow those instructions.

But then, how many times have we not followed the detailed instructions of God to the letter?

Maybe it would be easier to ask how many times we did follow God’s instructions.

Ezekiel paid close attention and wrote the descriptions down in great detail.

The people heard the instructions and rebuilt the temple and the nation their own way.

Life could have been much different if they had followed the instructions.

Have you ever been given detailed instructions and did things your own way? How did that turn out?
Have you ever followed detailed instructions from God? How did that turn out?