What does Ezekiel 12:26 reveal about God's communication with His prophets? The Text Itself “Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,” (Ezekiel 12:26) Key Observations • “The word of the LORD” highlights that what follows originates with God, not Ezekiel’s imagination. • “Came to me” underscores personal, direct encounter—God initiates. • “Saying” signals that God communicates in clear, verbal propositions that can be recorded and repeated. What This Reveals about God’s Communication with His Prophets • Direct Revelation – God speaks in real time, delivering timely messages for specific circumstances (cf. Jeremiah 1:4–9). • Personal Engagement – He does not issue impersonal memos; He addresses the prophet individually (“to me”). • Authoritative Clarity – The phrase recurs throughout Scripture (e.g., Isaiah 38:4; Jonah 1:1), marking the message as binding truth. • Continuity of Method – From Moses to John, God consistently chooses spokespersons and gives them literal words (Exodus 3:4; Revelation 1:10–11). • Accountability – Because the words are God’s, the prophet must deliver them faithfully (Ezekiel 2:7; 3:17–18). Supporting Scriptures • Numbers 12:6 – God makes His words known to prophets through visions and speech. • 2 Peter 1:21 – “Men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” • Hebrews 1:1 – God “spoke long ago to the fathers through the prophets.” • Amos 3:7 – The LORD reveals His plans to His servants the prophets. Together these passages affirm that Ezekiel 12:26 is part of a larger, consistent pattern of divine communication. Encouragement for Today Because God literally spoke to His prophets, we can rely on the written prophetic word as fully trustworthy. The same Lord who addressed Ezekiel has preserved those words for our instruction (Romans 15:4), guidance (Psalm 119:105), and hope (2 Peter 1:19). |
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