Seeing the unseen God

This is a back-dated post...
Just wanted to share what I have learnt from my QT last week =)

Was reading the book of Ezekiel and I was kinda excited to reach this book.
Because I only heard of his name and about the story of how dry bones becoming as flesh in the song "Days of Elijah" =p ( ya, I know I'm a lousy tutor... )

The theme for the book of Ezekiel is about "Seeing the unseen God" ( & I like this because I always struggle with the same issue... )

During the exile, God surprisingly appeared to Ezekiel in Babylon - the last place an Israelites expected to see God!
Ezekiel is a strange book to read, with all the unearthly visions, bizarre behaviour - lay in public on his side, bound by ropes, facing clay model, bake bread with cow dunk... ( Yes, serious, I'm not lying... It makes me swt when I read this too =.=* Go read it yourself if you don't believe me... )
The reason why Ezekiel the prophet and his message came in strange measure is to call people to pay attention - because God wanted to make himself known, with the hope that "Some day, some day, I will will get through to them... If the message doesn't reach their heart this way, then I'll try another!"
All God's message are meant to shock his people into restoring a living relationship with Him.

The lesson that struck me most is about how God called Ezekiel to fulfill His purpose.
Ezekiel as a young man in training for the priesthood, his career paths got interrupted by the deportation of the Babylon.
What good is it for a priest in Babylon when the temples is in Jerusalem and in ruin? He must be wondering...
The same question that we often asked whenever we are placed by God in an unwanted situation...
Little do he knows at that time, God had called him to a new role - a prophet to the Jews in Exile!

God grant such a powerful revelations at the beginning of his ministry to train him up for the tough assignment ahead.
God gives him an experience that he will never forget or doubt - no matter what difficulties he may face.
Ezekiel has to confront the stubborn and unyielding Israelites, as a result, he lives a lonely life... But he never loses hope with God and his faith does not waver.
The experience he had with God at the beginning of his ministry give him the courage he needs to fight on.

"And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious house. You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious." ~ Ezek 2:6-7

I believe God had already given me a lot of experiences to shape and mold me, but why? Why am I still so doubtful and so stubborn, just like the Israelites, so heart-harden...
I can only keep praying that God will continue to change me, help me not to choose to learn the hard way...


Even if we may not always understand why God allows certain things to happen to us, we can know He is able to bring good out of evil, and triumph out of suffering.
~ Billy Graham ~