It would be easy enough I suppose to put together an exile's baggage... robe, sandals, bread, water, blanket etc.
But how do you act out going into exile? When you are living with a people who are already in exile? It would be hard enough having to dig through the wall to get out.
I'm just trying to picture it...
Okay I can see it. The people by now would be watching Ezekiel, knowing that he is a prophet of God, some would watch just to see what he is going to do next, but others would watch because it mattered to them. They were settled as exiles. Not happy about it probably, but they were living as exiles.
And here comes Ezekiel, packing a bag they are all familiar with, they can see him because it's the daylight hours. Then night falls and instead of going home to bed, Ezekiel starts to fig through the wall, covers his face and walks off as if he is going to exile. They would be familiar with how that looks.
Ezekiel did all as the Lord God commanded of him.
The next day the Lord gave him the answer to the question the people were sure to ask "What are you doing?"
Hear the words of the Lord: This oracle concerns the prince in Jerusalem and all the house of Israel who are in it.’ Say, ‘I am a sign for you: as I have done, so shall it be done to them. They shall go into exile, into captivity.’ And the prince who is among them shall lift his baggage upon his shoulder at dusk, and shall go out. They shall dig through the wall to bring him out through it. He shall cover his face, that he may not see the land with his eyes. And I will spread my net over him, and he shall be taken in my snare. And I will bring him to Babylon, the land of the Chaldeans, yet he shall not see it, and he shall die there. And I will scatter toward every wind all who are around him, his helpers and all his troops, and I will unsheathe the sword after them. And they shall know that I am the LORD, when I disperse them among the nations and scatter them among the countries. But I will let a few of them escape from the sword, from famine and pestilence, that they may declare all their abominations among the nations where they go, and may know that I am the LORD.”
So God's word to this prince is: The people are going into exile, and the prince will be going with them. They will be scattered by the wind among the Chaldeans, dispersed among the nations. A remnant though will be preserved, this remnant will declare their sins among the nations and know that the Lord is indeed the LORD GOD.
The next sign the Lord gave to Ezekiel was the need to eat his bread and drink his water with fear and trembling. This was to be a sign :They shall eat their bread with anxiety, and drink water in dismay. In this way her land will be stripped of all it contains, on account of the violence of all those who dwell in it. And the inhabited cities shall be laid waste, and the land shall become a desolation; and you shall know that I am the LORD.”
such things the Lord God would be doing to Israel in his wrath over how they chose to leave him and pursue false gods. The people scattered, the people living in fear. Such a hard time for them.
Oh...these next few verses surprised me. :)
The Lord is straight-forward with his people.
1. He puts an end to the saying "the days grow long, and every vision comes to nothing".
2. He promises the people that he will be acting swiftly. They needn't be thinking that this punishment is a long way off.
I can just see it you know. Throughout Israel's history God has warned his people, straight up or doom! The people straighten up and the promised doom doesn't come. This time though, this time the people have gone too far. They have fallen so far away from God that he can no longer stand it.
None of my words will be delayed any longer, but the word that I speak will be performed, declares the Lord GOD.
How often do we do the same thing? This isn't just a "oh you horrible Israelites thing". This is us too. Yes, God sent his son for us to make us right with God. But that doesn't mean we can just run around doing our own thing. God wants us to seek after him. If we aren't seeking after him we are no better than the Israelites. NOT ONE BIT. So don't fool yourself.
Seek after God or realize he will act. God cannot abide his people seeking after anything other than himself. He's too holy and awesome and right to be able to stand it.
[7] And I did as I was commanded. I brought out my baggage by day, as baggage for exile, and in the evening I dug through the wall with my own hands. I brought out my baggage at dusk, carrying it on my shoulder in their sight.
[8] In the morning the word of the LORD came to me: [9] “Son of man, has not the house of Israel, the rebellious house, said to you, ‘What are you doing?’ [10] Say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: This oracle concerns the prince in Jerusalem and all the house of Israel who are in it.’ [11] Say, ‘I am a sign for you: as I have done, so shall it be done to them. They shall go into exile, into captivity.’ [12] And the prince who is among them shall lift his baggage upon his shoulder at dusk, and shall go out. They shall dig through the wall to bring him out through it. He shall cover his face, that he may not see the land with his eyes. [13] And I will spread my net over him, and he shall be taken in my snare. And I will bring him to Babylon, the land of the Chaldeans, yet he shall not see it, and he shall die there. [14] And I will scatter toward every wind all who are around him, his helpers and all his troops, and I will unsheathe the sword after them. [15] And they shall know that I am the LORD, when I disperse them among the nations and scatter them among the countries. [16] But I will let a few of them escape from the sword, from famine and pestilence, that they may declare all their abominations among the nations where they go, and may know that I am the LORD.”
[17] And the word of the LORD came to me: [18] “Son of man, eat your bread with quaking, and drink water with trembling and with anxiety. [19] And say to the people of the land, Thus says the Lord GOD concerning the inhabitants of Jerusalem in the land of Israel: They shall eat their bread with anxiety, and drink water in dismay. In this way her land will be stripped of all it contains, on account of the violence of all those who dwell in it. [20] And the inhabited cities shall be laid waste, and the land shall become a desolation; and you shall know that I am the LORD.”
[21] And the word of the LORD came to me: [22] “Son of man, what is this proverb that you have about the land of Israel, saying, ‘The days grow long, and every vision comes to nothing’? [23] Tell them therefore, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: I will put an end to this proverb, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel.’ But say to them, The days are near, and the fulfillment of every vision. [24] For there shall be no more any false vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel. [25] For I am the LORD; I will speak the word that I will speak, and it will be performed. It will no longer be delayed, but in your days, O rebellious house, I will speak the word and perform it, declares the Lord GOD.”
[26] And the word of the LORD came to me: [27] “Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, ‘The vision that he sees is for many days from now, and he prophesies of times far off.’ [28] Therefore say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: None of my words will be delayed any longer, but the word that I speak will be performed, declares the Lord GOD.”
(Ezekiel 12 ESV)