29 Ezekiel Man of Visions

Jul 15, 2026

Upload by Violet

The text recounts the prophet Ezekiel’s vision during the Babylonian captivity. God’s glory appears as a bright light with four fiery living creatures, four faces, and a sapphire throne filled with radiant light. Ezekiel is commissioned to speak to rebellious Israel and Judah, and is directed to eat a scroll and then act out symbolic warnings. Through days of silence, staged portrayals of Jerusalem’s siege, and actions involving hair and clothing, Ezekiel communicates that Babylon will destroy the city and that a remnant will be preserved and return.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryReligion & Spirituality

FormatPDF

Pages33

Reading Time1 h 23 min

Ezekiel’s captivity and calling

The vision and God’s commission

The scroll and Ezekiel’s mission

Symbolic actions warning of Jerusalem’s fall

# 29 Ezekiel:Man of Visions Written by Edward Hughes www.bibleforchildren.org 29/60 Long ago,mighty armies attacked Judah,taking many of God'speople back to Babylon as captives.Far from home,these Jewslived beside the river Chebar.Among them wasGod's servant,the prophet Ezekiel.—li/Mw它 One day,God gaveEzekiel avision.God's gloryappearedas a brightlight,inthe form offour fierylivingcreatures. Each had four faces and fourwings.Above them was abeautiful sapphire throne,filledwith light like blazing rainbows.When Ezekiel saw it,he fell onhis face. God spoke to Ezekiel.“I am sendingyou to the children of Israel.SpeakMy words to them,for they arerebellious."A hand appeared, holding a scroll.“Eat this scroll,”Godsaid,"and go,speak to the houseof Israel.” What an odd command!But Ezekielobeyed,ate the scroll and went. God's Spirit lifted Ezekieland carried him away to thecaptive Jews living atanother spot by the RiverChebar.For seven days hesat where they sat, astonished by what he saw.Then God made Ezekiel awatchman.He was to warnthe wicked people not todisobey God. Ezekiel did many strange things to make God's word clear topeople.He scratched a picture of Jerusalem on a piece of claytile.Maybe people looked over his shoulder while he drewfigures of a mighty army around Jerusalem.He was showingthat God's holy city would soon be destroyed. Israel,the northern kingdom,disobeyed God for 390 years,andJudah,the southern kingdom,for 40 years.That's why Israelhad been destroyed and why Judah would soon fall.God toldEzekiel to lie on his left side for 390 days,then on hisright side for 40,to remind the people of their Perhaps the people were beginning tothink that Ezekiel was a very strangeman.He did everything God told him to.One day,he shaved his hair and burnt athird of it.This was to show that onethird of the people in Jerusalem woulddie of disease and famine whenBabylon's army attacked the city. Ezekiel took another third of his hair and chopped itwith a sword.This was to show that a third of thepeople would die by enemy swords.The last third, But he sewed a few hairs into the hem of hisgarment as a sign God would keep some of Hispeople safe and return them to the Promised land.

FAQs

What vision does Ezekiel receive and what does it reveal about God’s glory?

God’s glory appears as a bright light in the form of four fiery living creatures, each with four faces and four wings. Above them is a sapphire throne filled with light like blazing rainbows, emphasizing divine majesty.

Why was Ezekiel sent to the children of Israel, and what task does he receive?

God sends Ezekiel to speak God’s words to rebellious Israel. Ezekiel is told to eat a scroll and then go to deliver God’s message to the house of Israel.

How do Ezekiel’s symbolic actions communicate warnings about Jerusalem’s coming destruction?

Ezekiel acts out the message by portraying siege and destruction and by performing actions involving days, shaving and burning hair, and cutting it. These symbols correspond to the fates awaiting the people when Babylon attacks, while a saved remnant is kept for return.

Jul 15, 2026

Upload by Violet