“As they watch, lift your pack to your shoulders and walk away into the night. Cover your face so you cannot see the land you are leaving. For I have made you a sign for the people of Israel.” So I did as I was told. (Ezekiel 12:6-7)

Read: Ezekiel 12:1 – 14:11, Hebrews 7:1-17, Psalm 105:37-45, Proverbs 27:3

Relate: There are no two ways about it. Ezekiel is a genuine, bonafide nutcase. If we were simply looking at the man’s life and some of the things he did, without the vantage point of a Biblical perspective, he would be a lunatic. If I were a contemporary of his, I would think he was insane. If he were around today, we would lock him up in a padded cell and and a full battery of “professionals” would make their careers writing case studies and psychology books about him. I love it.

Think about it, his first prophesy included eating a scroll. Then, after being mute for a good long time, for over a year he lay on his side eating only water and a little whole grain bread cooked over cow dung. (He talked God out of using human feces) When this was up, he shaved. With a sword. Collecting that hair, he burned a third of it, scattered a third to the wind, and then ran around the city stabbing at the final third with that sword.

So packing up all his belongings in suitcases, digging a hole in the wall of his house, and carrying it all out through that hole right on out of the city… blindfolded… is small potatoes. Yes, he would always manage to gather a crowd for his antics. It’s human nature, king of like everyone rubbernecking at a train wreck or that Rebecca Black youtube video garnering 85 million views (or 126 million for nyan cat). If anyone ever needed proof that social media popularity is no proof of beauty or intelligence, those two end all debate. But I digress…

React: Sometimes I think that the crazier an idea seems, the more likely that it is from God. I think that part of having the childlike faith necessary to be among the greatest in God’s kingdom is the ability to dream irrational dreams and then to actually strive towards carrying them out. I can almost picture Ezekiel complaining to God,

Ezekiel – I’ve tried but I just can’t seem to get through to these people. What will it take to get them to listen?
God – I’m glad you asked, I need you to shave your beard with a sword. Then…
A few days later:
Ezekiel – God, my reputation is completely ruined. Thanks for that.
God – But it worked, didn’t it?
Ezekiel – Well, actually, it kinda did.
God – Excellent. This time…

If I were to have such a conversation with God, would I be as willing to obey? If God were calling me beyond the extraordinary right into the realm of the insane, would I be able to follow through with an irrational obedience? Would you? What crazy ideas have been bouncing around in the back of our heads on what we could accomplish for God? Is it time to turn those insane ideas into action?

Respond: 

God, all too often I am only willing to follow You when it leads in at least semi-respectable directions. Please forgive me for this pride. Please help me to live with a childlike abandon. Let me follow You with a radical, irrational obedience. If people think I am insane, that is fine. All that matters is what You say of me.