Is this the strangest (and most interesting) verse in the Bible? – Ezekiel 8, 9, & 10, Preview

I would like to introduce you to what I consider to be one of the strangest (and maybe most interesting!) verses in the Bible.  Ezekiel 8:3,

“He [the glowing metal fire creature] stretched out what looked like a hand and took me by the hair of my head.  The Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and in visions of God he took me to Jerusalem, to the entrance to the north gate of the inner court, where the idol that provokes to jealousy stood.”

Did you get all that?  Do you need to read it again?  Yes, that is a real Bible verse! 

We’ve been studying the amazing book of Ezekiel for a few months now, and lest there be any doubt of its uniqueness, I think what happens next will seal the deal.  So far Ezekiel has experienced some very shocking visions, and God has asked him to perform unsettling prophetic dramas, living among his fellow 10,000 Jews in exile in Babylon.  In chapters 1-7, therefore, we learned that Ezekiel’s ministry is unconventional.  It is true that last week in our study of chapter 7, we heard Ezekiel preach a fairly standard prophetic word. Get ready, though, because what happens next is anything but.  Just read that verse again up there.  What do you think it means? 

Check out Ezekiel chapters 8, 9 and 10 ahead of time to see for yourself, then I’ll look forward to talking about it further on the blog next week!  I think you’ll find that what happens next in Ezekiel’s life is very applicable to us.  I know…whatever is going on in Ezekiel 8:3 seems like the last thing that might relate to life in America in 2021.  But there’s a lot more to the story.  More than you and I need to consider, as we seek to be faithful disciples of Jesus in our world.