Ezekiel 12:1-6: a reflection

1The LORD’s word also came to me, saying, 2“Son of man, you dwell in the middle of the rebellious house, who have eyes to see, and don’t see, who have ears to hear, and don’t hear; for they are a rebellious house. 3“Therefore, you son of man, prepare your baggage for moving, and move by day in their sight. You shall move from your place to another place in their sight. It may be they will consider, though they are a rebellious house. 4You shall bring out your baggage by day in their sight, as baggage for moving. You shall go out yourself at evening in their sight, as when men go out into exile. 5Dig through the wall in their sight, and carry your baggage out that way. 6In their sight you shall bear it on your shoulder, and carry it out in the dark. You shall cover your face, so that you don’t see the land, for I have set you for a sign to the house of Israel.”

God sends Ezekiel to a people described as a rebellious house, who have eyes to see, and don't see, who have ears to hear, and don't hear. They were dull, unresponsive to God's word. And yet God does not simply give up on them; he has Ezekiel act out a vivid sign, packing his baggage and digging through the wall as one going into exile, doing it in their sight, hoping to reach them: It may be they will consider, though they are a rebellious house. God goes to great lengths, using a striking, embodied sign, in the patient hope that even the unresponsive might yet consider and turn.

Notice God's patient effort to reach even the unresponsive. The people were dull, rebellious, seeing and hearing but not perceiving; God might have given up on them. But instead he took pains to reach them, having Ezekiel act out a vivid, embodied sign before their eyes, going to unusual lengths, in the hope that it may be they will consider. God did not abandon the unresponsive to their dullness; he kept trying, patiently, creatively, hoping to break through and move them to consider. His patience with the rebellious house was shown in the lengths he went to, still hoping they might yet turn. Even to the dull-hearted, he kept holding out a way to consider.

That is worth taking to heart, for God is patient in his efforts to reach even the unresponsive, and we can take hope in that patience. We can feel that we, or others, are too dull, too unresponsive, too far gone for God to keep reaching us; but God took pains to reach even the rebellious house, hoping they might yet consider. His patience with the unresponsive is great; he does not quickly give up, but keeps holding out a way to turn. Do not think yourself or others beyond God's patient reaching because of dullness or unresponsiveness; he goes to great lengths, hoping we will yet consider. Take hope in God's patience, which keeps reaching even the unresponsive in the hope they will yet consider and turn, as he had Ezekiel act out a sign for the rebellious house; for God does not quickly give up on the dull-hearted, but patiently keeps holding out a way to turn, hoping that even the unresponsive might yet consider.

Lord, you send Ezekiel to a people described as a rebellious house, who have eyes to see, and don't see, who have ears to hear, and don't hear. They were dull, unresponsive to your word. And yet you do not simply give up on them; you have Ezekiel act out a vivid sign, packing his baggage and digging through the wall as one going into exile, doing it in their sight, hoping to reach them: it may be they will consider, though they are a rebellious house. You go to great lengths, in the patient hope that even the unresponsive might yet consider and turn. Show me your patient effort to reach even the unresponsive. The people were dull, rebellious, seeing and hearing but not perceiving; you might have given up on them. But instead you took pains to reach them, having Ezekiel act out a vivid sign before their eyes, in the hope that it may be they will consider. You did not abandon the unresponsive to their dullness; you kept trying, patiently, creatively. Your patience with the rebellious house was shown in the lengths you went to. Take that to my heart, for you are patient in your efforts to reach even the unresponsive, and I can take hope in that patience. I can feel that I, or others, am too dull, too unresponsive, too far gone for you to keep reaching us; but you took pains to reach even the rebellious house. Your patience with the unresponsive is great; you do not quickly give up. Keep me from thinking myself or others beyond your patient reaching because of dullness; help me take hope in your patience, Lord, which keeps reaching even the unresponsive in the hope they will yet consider and turn.