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In the constant ebb and flow of power in the Ancient Near East, Egypt was always in the mix. Her strength and fortune would rise and fall on the tides of history. In a series of precisely-dated prophecies, Ezekiel let the world know that before long, Egypt would be washed up.

The Phoenician cities of Tyre and Sidon were always a problem. Just to the north of Israel, the Phoenicians were a nation of seafarers and traders. But they were also the regional headquarters of Baal worship. And for hundreds of years their corrupt influence reached right into the palaces of Israel’s kings.

Even though God was determined to punish Israel for her blatant unfaithfulness, He was still not prepared to let her enemies get off scot-free. The surrounding nations would be held to account for the way they dealt with the apple of His eye.

On January 15th, 588 BC, Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon laid siege to Jerusalem. On that same day, hundreds of miles away by the Rivers of Babylon, Ezekiel uttered a powerful message, a parable that spoke of Jerusalem as a cooking pot in desperate need of a thorough cleaning.

The history of God’s relationship with His chosen people was a stormy one. He had brought them out of Egypt and given them a place and a name. In return they had stubbornly refused to follow after Him wholeheartedly. God is patient and longsuffering, but there comes a time when even divine patience eventually runs out.

The prophet Ezekiel’s lot was not a happy one. As the city of Jerusalem edged ever closer to disaster, it was his responsibility to call out her crimes. The language was strong – straight talk because her sins were hideous. But sometimes a hard lesson can best be learned by pondering on a riddle.

The first few years of Nebuchadnezzar’s hold on Jerusalem didn’t pose such a massive threat to the Judeans that they thought they were in any significant trouble. It didn’t occur to them to think of changing their ways. They thought things would all work out fine soon enough. It was Ezekiel’s task to convince them that they were tragically, fatally mistaken.

When we take a guided tour, we always like it when the guide can give us a little peek under the curtains, a little glimpse of the reality behind the scenes. But when Ezekiel was taken up for a tour of his beloved city, the things he saw going on behind closed doors were anything but encouraging.

Nobody likes to be caught red-handed. Nobody wants to have their punishment spelled out for them. Nobody enjoys the shame that follows when they are finally brought to account. Nobody likes it, but we know that it’s part of the working out of justice. The wicked aren’t supposed to enjoy justice, that’s the point.

When we teach children, sometimes it’s helpful to get down on their level and play with toys. We can explain how things work in the real world by acting out different stories in miniature with models. It’s not a modern technique though, Ezekiel used it to teach a serious lesson. And it wasn’t kid’s stuff.