Faith, When We Don't Understand


     
God takes Ezekiel's wife. He warns him the day it happens and requires of Ezekiel not to mourn, weep, or let tears run down.


Ezekiel 24:15-18 (ESV)
The word of the Lord came to me: "Son of man, behold, I am about to take the delight of your eyes away from you at a stroke: yet you shall not mourn or weep, nor shall your tears run down. Sigh, but not aloud; make no mourning for the dead. Bind on your turban, and put your shoes on your feet; do not cover your lips, nor eat the bread of men." So I spoke to the people in the morning, and at evening my wife died. And on the next morning I did as I was commanded.
This was all done as an example for Israel.

Ezekiel 24:19-24 (ESV)
And the people said to me, “Will you not tell us what these things mean for us, that you are acting thus?” Then I said to them, “The word of the Lord came to me: ‘Say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the pride of your power, the delight of your eyes, and the yearning of your soul, and your sons and your daughters whom you left behind shall fall by the sword.  And you shall do as I have done; you shall not cover your lips, nor eat the bread of men. Your turbans shall be on your heads and your shoes on your feet; you shall not mourn or weep, but you shall rot away in your iniquities and groan to one another. Thus shall Ezekiel be to you a sign; according to all that he has done you shall do. When this comes, then you will know that I am the Lord God.’

What an obedience and devotion, to God, that Ezekiel had! It was actually all part of the role he served in God's plan.

It amazes me and causes me to reflect.

What lies within us, when we are broken, rises to the surface. What does it appear like to others, when revealed?

God knows our capacity; He knows our frame.

What of our dreams, when ripped away, with no hope of reappearance? How will we respond? 

Will we continue on our path of devotion or allow bitterness and disillusionment to turn us away?

How will we face the testing of our soul? Will we be pure?

Yet, personally speaking, even when all of my dreams and potential dreams are torn away, worse it would be, to lose God. It would be as if all of the breath was pulled out of my lungs and I was left gasping, helplessly. It would be the ultimate desolation.

Sometimes I do not understand God. However, why would I ever want to worship a God that I could control or manipulate. Where, then, would be the supremacy?

If I understood God, His ways, His plans, His reasonings and His actions, then how could He be superior and why would I need Him? 

Then comes faith and trust....sometimes, long enduring faith and trust.

Patiently waiting and hoping.... 

Psalm 33:20-22 (ESV)
Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is 
glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O Lord, 
be upon us, even as we hope in you.

Psalm 27:14 (ESV)
Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!
 

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