267th Week, Ezekiel Chapters 44-48 (Click on the Title for a Video Introduction)(

 Click on Title for a Video Intro

Monday, Ezekiel Chapter 44

Ezekiel 44 

Verse 30

Bart Strayer

Verses 30: “The best of all the first fruits and all of your special gifts will belong to the priests. You are to give them the first portion of your ground meat so that a blessing may rest on your household.”

THOUGHT

Here again the Bible is talking about our giving to the Lord. The verse makes mention of your first fruits, which are your monetary gifts and depending on the time period, a product of your trade (grain, woodcrafts etc.) The idea being, the variety of people would provide a variety of products for the purposes of the Lord. 

The verse also says your “special gifts” are to be given. This is where I struggle. Special gifts can encompass many different aspects including our time, talents, and other offerings. It seems the hardest thing for me to give, and think we could all admit to this, is our time and talents. It is easy to cut the check to the Lord, but it is the extra few hours a week at the church that seems to put me in a bad mood at times. 

I know this is definitely a topic to pray about in my life.   It may be for you as well.

PRAYER

Lord, give us a new heart for Your service. We at times grow weary and start to prioritize other events with our time that could be used to serve You. We ask that You would forgive us and help give us a heart of service to You. AMEN

Tuesday, Ezekiel Chapter 45

Ezekiel 45

Heather Proehl

THOUGHT

So we hear in the beginning of this chapter that they are to allot some land for the temple in the center of town. That doesn’t seem like much to ask for. But I bet it was hard. We as humans are naturally so greedy that it’s hard to give up our stuff, even when it really belongs to God anyway - like we actually own it! He even provided plenty of land, and it is still hard. It almost seems like the more you have, the harder it is to give it up. 

Anyway, we see later in the chapter that he calls for them to be just and right, especially in business dealings. My Bible gives the example of, ‘if you are paid for an hour of work, you should be sure to complete a full hour of work’. It is so true. You know, where have ethics gone in business? I’m still amazed that Ethics aren’t just assumed. We have to teach Ethics and stress the importance of it. We must continue to remind people of ethics. I know David had to complete a 2 hour credit course on Ethics to get his MBA. As a CPA I have to complete 8 hours of Ethics training every 3 years, and at General Mills we had an Ethics week where we had emails and presentations all week on Ethics. 

It is too bad we just don’t operate in a righteous way. Seems like it should just be the way things are - like breathing. Sad it isn’t that way. We need to stress it. I’ll get off my soap box.  However, I will say that we need to operate ethically at any level in business. Whether you work in the mail room or run the board meeting, everyone should be doing his part — working his full hour for his hour of pay. After all, it’s Biblical.

PRAYER

Lord, I’m sorry we are so selfish and greedy. Forgive us. Help us to see past ourselves and acknowledge that all we have we have because of You. So if You say to give it away, we should - and willingly. Thank You for providing us with jobs. Lord, I pray that each of us would represent You and do as You say in Ezekiel 45 and be fair and just at our workplaces. We need to honor You through our actions, especially in the work place.  AMEN

Wednesday, Ezekiel Chapter 46

Ezekiel 46

Heather Proehl

THOUGHT

The thing that stuck out to me in this chapter were all the rules of the temple and worshiping. Entering certain doors, sacrificing animals, etc. It seems very prescriptive. I’m not sure I understand why. But it made me think of the story Jane shared of Jamaica and how everyone dresses up for church even though it’s a million degrees out.  It’s a church, and they want to show respect. I like that. 

I know I’ve gotten way more casual with my church outfits, but I still try to wear khakis or black pants. I feel weird wearing jeans to church. There is something to be said about respect and how we show that. The church has changed so much from the Old Testament. Definitely not this prescriptive, which is fine with me, but it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be more formal and respectful.

PRAYER

Dear Lord, sometimes I don’t fully understand why things were the way they were in the Old Testament, but I trust You had a reason.  Lord, I realize that we have gotten way less formal and possibly less respectful as we’ve moved through time. Lord, forgive us. You deserve the utmost respect for all You have done for us. We Love You. AMEN

Thursday, Ezekiel Chapter 47

Ezekiel 47 

Tanya Ruden

THOUGHT

No particular verse stood out to me in this chapter, but as I read it, the floods of this summer popped into my head. The chapter went on to start talking about shallow water, and then it kept getting deeper and deeper and deeper. I couldn’t help but think about the many people who experienced this in their homes this summer with all the water we had in Des Moines and Ames and Omaha.  It probably starts as a small leak, and then next thing you know your house is knee deep in yucky water. 

Water is a source of life. This chapter symbolizes that many needs of the people will be satisfied by this water and the area where they are settling. If you think about it, most towns are centered on some sort of water source. I know Norfolk was named for their placement on the “North Fork” of the river. I don’t know much about the history of Des Moines but with all the flooding and the river going smack through downtown, I would say it developed here because of the river.

God is called “the River of Life”. He provides for our needs just like the rivers around our cities used to satisfy people’s needs. He is “fun loving” like the river can be where there are parks to splash around in and have fun. He is powerful like a river that can have enough force to rush out of its banks or create power and energy through its rushing waves. A river is something to admire and respect — like our God!

PRAYER

Father God, we thank You for being our ‘river of life’. Thank You for providing for all of our needs, just like the fish of the river provide food for those around it. Thank You for Your comforting arms to relax in just like the waves of a calm river. Thank You for Your power with which to move mountains.  Thank You for Your strength just like a powerful raging river. May we all grab a raft and enjoy our ride on Your river with the Bible as our boat and our Christian brothers and sisters as our ship mates. AMEN

Friday,  Ezekiel Chapter 48

Ezekiel 48 

Verse 35

Tanya Ruden

Verse 35:  “And the name of the city from that time on will be The Lord is There.”

THOUGHT

As I was reading chapter 47 and 48 one thought kept going through my mind.  “Do you think if the division of inheritance is decreed in the Bible by God that people accept what they are given better than the ways of the world today or do you think there was as much greed and “this is unfair” as there is today?”  In my limited years in my career I have seen businesses split to a family member and inheritances awarded. I even saw an inheritance and a family business passed down while the dad was still alive!! In most cases what I saw was the incredible amount of greed and entitlement. 

It is amazing how money can be so powerful especially over people’s emotions and thoughts. And most of those cases are split by the parent’s wishes — just like the land in this chapter was split by God the Father’s wishes. You know that old saying “Father Knows Best”.  While that is a given with God, don’t you also think that is a given with most parents. They did things for a reason. 

I think this also shows that things aren’t always “fair”.  If I read this right Joseph’s tribe got 2 parcels instead of one. There were reasons for all of this, and God provided for every person in the tribe not neglecting anyone. I’d like to think all the people were thankful for what they got, but I have the feeling there was lots of mumbling and grumbling among the people.

We must rejoice every day. Praise God in all things. We must be thankful for our many blessings and all that we have. We must not want for things yet to come, but enjoy things of the here and now. May greed not play a part in our lives, especially when it comes to family relationships. May we look to God for guidance in our “division” decisions.  If He can divide land between 12 tribes, He can guide us in these decisions.

PRAYER

Father God, greed is such an easy sin to commit. Not just in big times, like inheritances, but also in everyday small things we do. Give us strength to fight this sin, to praise You in all things we have and do! May we listen to You.  May we use the Bible as our guide when we have to make decisions that could involve greed. May we be Your light and Your example in this greedy world. AMEN