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  Which prophet was lifted by his hair to the heavens?

  Jun 7, 2023

   

  I know. That sounds weird. But that is probably not the weirdest thing that happened to this prophet.

   

   

  Prophets had a tough job. They were Exhibit A for the object lessons God wanted Israel to see.  Many times prophets rose to the public microphone to deliver unpopular messages. These were words of warning, foretellings of disaster, punishment and judgment if Israel did not change their behavior.

   

  Ezekiel came onto God's stage after Israel had ignored the prophets before him. Judgment had fallen and Israel was conquered by its enemy. Ezekiel's message was if you thought that was bad, there is more to come. You might think of his ministry in two parts: the delivery of extremely unpopular messages, kind of like rubbing sand into a rug burn, and the second of hope, comfort and encouragement for Israel's future.

   

  Ezekiel's ministry began in Iraq. He never made it home to Israel. He died in Iraq. Today his tomb is a Muslim shrine. But while he was there, taken as a captive along with the rest to Babylon, God began to speak to him and give him visions. And in one of them, God picked him up by his hair.

   

  And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I sat in mine house, and the elders of Judah sat before me, that the hand of the Lord GOD fell there upon me. Then I beheld, and lo a likeness as the appearance of fire: from the appearance of his loins even downward, fire; and from his loins even upward, as the appearance of brightness, as the colour of amber. And he put forth the form of an hand, and took me by a lock of mine head; and the spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heaven, and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the inner gate that looketh toward the north; where was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provoketh to jealousy. And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, according to the vision that I saw in the plain.

  Ezekiel 8:1-4 

   

  Ezekiel devoted himself to God during one of Israel's darkest times. Their government was corrupt. Their priests were corrupt. They were invaded by their enemy and taken prisoner. It looked like they were defeated. But God was with them still. Just as He is with them today. His mercy is everlasting.

   

  And, God offers His mercy to us and He has promised to never leave or forsake us. He has given us everything we need for life and godliness in Jesus. No matter what your circumstances, allow God to lift you into His presence. Fix your eyes on Him.

   

  Most of Ezekiel's prophecies have already come to pass. But there are still a few scholars think are due, and just maybe, in our lifetime. If you would like to learn more about Ezekiel and his prophecies that Bible scholars are expecting to be fulfilled soon, check out our book on Ezekiel.

   

  If you'd like to know more about the time Ezekiel lived, check out our Ezekiel playlist on YouTube here.

   

   

   

  blog cover image by Eunice Lituanas courtesy of Unsplash

  Tags: #ezekiel, #Prophet, #Prophecies

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