When God interacts with Ezekiel, the encounters are intense, overwhelming, and deeply symbolic—transforming Ezekiel from a priest into a prophet charged with a monumental task. These interactions unfold across multiple chapters and follow a pattern of divine encounter, commissioning, instruction, and symbolic action. Here's a breakdown:
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1. Divine Encounter and Ezekiel’s Reaction (Ezekiel 1:28–2:2)
After witnessing the vision of God’s glory:
> “When I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking.” (Ezekiel 1:28, ESV)
Ezekiel falls prostrate, overwhelmed by the sheer majesty of the vision. This is a common response in the Bible when humans are confronted with the divine.
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2. God Commissions Ezekiel (Ezekiel 2–3)
God speaks directly to Ezekiel, calling him “son of man”—a term used nearly 100 times in the book, emphasizing his humanity compared to God's glory.
God tells him:
> “I am sending you to the people of Israel, to a nation of rebels... whether they listen or refuse to listen—for they are a rebellious people—they will know that a prophet has been among them.” (Ezekiel 2:3–5)
Ezekiel is warned that his mission will be difficult, and he’s told not to fear them, even though they are obstinate.
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3. The Scroll and the Taste of the Message (Ezekiel 3:1–3)
God gives Ezekiel a scroll filled with words of lament, mourning, and woe and commands him to eat it:
> “Then I ate it, and it was in my mouth as sweet as honey.” (Ezekiel 3:3)
This symbolizes internalizing God's message—even when it's bitter for the people, it must be fully digested by the prophet.
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4. God's Glory and Prophetic Empowerment (Ezekiel 3:12–15)
The Spirit lifts Ezekiel up, and he hears the thunderous sound of the Lord’s glory. He is transported and sits among the exiles in Tel Abib, overwhelmed and silent for seven days.
> “I came to the exiles... and I sat where they sat... overwhelmed among them seven days.” (Ezekiel 3:15)
This silence reflects the weight of the divine message and the shock of his new role.
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5. Becoming a Watchman (Ezekiel 3:16–21)
After the seven days, God appoints Ezekiel as a watchman for Israel, responsible for warning people:
> “If you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way... his blood I will require at your hand.” (Ezekiel 3:18)
This moment defines Ezekiel's prophetic responsibility—to warn, regardless of the people’s response.
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Summary
When God interacts with Ezekiel, the result is:
A profound encounter with divine glory
A difficult mission to confront rebellion and idolatry
A burden of responsibility to speak truth despite resistance
A transformation into a living message—often through symbolic acts, visions, and even personal suffering
These divine interactions make Ezekiel one of the most intense, symbolic, and apocalyptic prophets in the Bible.