11/16/25 Weekly Bible Lesson: The Medium is in the Message

Ezekiel 3:10-11; 24:15-27  

Background of Text — Ezekiel was called to the obligation to speak the Word of the Lord. While Jeremiah was in Jerusalem when it went under siege, Ezekiel was doing his ministry in Babylon. He was one of the early exiles and lived in the outer region of Babylon. This challenged the idea that Yahweh was only present in Jerusalem. He was, and always will be, more than a regional God. He is the God of the whole world. In Ezekiel 24, the final attack against Jerusalem is about to begin.  

3:10-11 — This is the first time Ezekiel is called to go to the exiles. An effective servant of God must know the Word of the Lord and the needs of God’s people. The Word of the Lord is the foundational directive for the needs of people. He was to be in harmony with the Word. God warns Ezekiel against hypocrisy. The message comes across as neither genuine nor true if the person speaking is not obedient to it.  

God told Ezekiel to go to the exiles and proclaim the Word of the Lord, whether they would listen or not. Their response was not supposed to alter his commitment to Yahweh.  

24:15-18 — Through Ezekiel, God is going to prepare the exiles for the coming fall of Jerusalem. God refers to Ezekiel as “Son of Man.” This describes the human frailty of the prophet. This is also the name Jesus used the most in reference to Himself. God said Ezekiel would lose what he cared about most on Earth—his wife would be taken as a lesson to the captives. Especially when reading accounts like this, let us never forget the loss God experiences because of our sin.  

Ezekiel was to grieve internally. This meant he was not supposed to do any of the traditional grieving practices of that day. This was to symbolize the stunning effect the fall of Jerusalem would have on the people.  

Ezekiel knew his wife would die soon, but he still went to the captives. In the evening, his wife died. Then, in obedience to the Lord, he carried out the difficult commands he was given. He showed no signs of mourning but groaned silently within.  

24:19-24 — The captives knew Ezekiel’s lack of emotion had a prophetic meaning. It was an abnormal reaction, and it accomplished God’s intention. God intended to illustrate the way the exiles would react to the terrible news of Jerusalem falling; more specifically, how they would react to the fall of the temple.  

We often have a hard time appreciating the attachment the Jews had toward the temple. They saw it as security. It was very precious to them. It was what the exiles missed most about being in Babylon. It is important for us to understand that they loved it for what they thought it provided them, not because they loved God. Another tragedy would occur as well. Because they had abandoned their children, their children would die. They would lose what they cared for most on earth, just as it happened to Ezekiel with his wife.  

Yahweh was certain this news would be shocking for them. Yet, they would behave as Ezekiel behaved. It would be a grief so great that they would be emotionally numb. They would be unable to grieve conventionally. We read in Lamentations 3:1-18 that the grief was so terrible for Jeremiah that it was as though he lost control of his body. In their guilt, they would waste away, feeling like they were incapable of overcoming such loss.  

When they would come to hear the news of Jerusalem, it would give them a true perspective regarding the character of God. Ezekiel was a sign to them to accomplish one main purpose—that they would know Yahweh for who He is, a holy and jealous God.  

24:25-27 — All confidence they once had because of the temple would be lost. Soon, a fugitive would come from Jerusalem to declare the fall and the death of the sons and daughters. Yet, this is when Ezekiel’s ministry would change. The message he had spoken for so long would be authenticated, and the people would accept him as a messenger of God. They would come to him seeking help. Now, Ezekiel would be able to give them a message of hope. He would be a sign of salvation and life for them.  

Once again, there are things to learn about having a faith that shows others the character of Christ. Ezekiel showed the character of God through a sacrifice. Through Ezekiel, the captives came to know the I AM. Looking forward to Jesus, He made the ultimate sacrifice, so we would come to know the I AM (John 14:6). Ezekiel was obedient to God even in the face of opposition, so the exiles would know what God did. Jesus was obedient to the Father, so all would come to know what God did by sending Jesus to be the ultimate sacrifice. The lesson here for each Christian is to recognize the sacrifice made and, therefore, be a sacrifice (Romans 12:1), primarily by proclaiming what God has done through Christ even in the face of opposition.  

Discussion Question: In what ways can we make sacrifices to show others the character of God?