When the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem began in the ninth year of the exile, it was a point of no return in Israel’s history; God’s judgment was coming. Ezekiel was given the symbol of a cooking pot to represent Jerusalem. Israel’s sin was like an encrusted deposit on the pot, which could not be washed away except by cooking in it with a very hot fire (6, 11).

In the course of carrying out his ministry, Ezekiel experienced a personal tragedy—the death of his wife (15-18). God instructed him not to lament in the traditional manner but to hold his grief inside (17). Humanly, this is not healthy. But God made Ezekiel a symbol to the other exiles of how they would suffer when the delight of their eyes, Jerusalem, was taken from them (19-27). His life became part of his prophetic message.

A tragedy in the life of a child of God is not a sign of God’s punishment or disapproval. Even when we are suffering pain and sorrow, we can trust that God uses everything for good and helps us grow in knowing Jesus more deeply through what has happened (Ro 8:28). Our mission and God’s personal love and leading for us are connected together.
Application: Father, thank you for giving me mission and being faithful to use everything in my life, even painful things, for good.
One Word: God uses everything for our good