Into Captivity as a Thief in the Night

Ezekiel 12:1-16 

1 Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying: 2 "Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, which has eyes to see but does not see, and ears to hear but does not hear; for they are a rebellious house.

3 "Therefore, son of man, prepare your belongings for captivity, and go into captivity by day in their sight. You shall go from your place into captivity to another place in their sight. It may be that they will consider, though they are a rebellious house. 4 By day you shall bring out your belongings in their sight, as though going into captivity; and at evening you shall go in their sight, like those who go into captivity. 5 Dig through the wall in their sight, and carry your belongings out through it. 6 In their sight you shall bear them on your shoulders and carry them out at twilight; you shall cover your face, so that you cannot see the ground, for I have made you a sign to the house of Israel."

7 So I did as I was commanded. I brought out my belongings by day, as though going into captivity, and at evening I dug through the wall with my hand. I brought them out at twilight, and I bore them on my shoulder in their sight.

8 And in the morning the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 9 "Son of man, has not the house of Israel, the rebellious house, said to you, 'What are you doing?' 10 Say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "This burden concerns the prince in Jerusalem and all the house of Israel who are among them."' 11 Say, I am a sign to you. As I have done, so shall it be done to them; they shall be carried away into captivity.' 12 And the prince who is among them shall bear his belongings on his shoulder at twilight and go out. They shall dig through the wall to carry them out through it. He shall cover his face, so that he cannot see the ground with his eyes. 13 I will also spread My net over him, and he shall be caught in My snare. I will bring him to Babylon, to the land of the Chaldeans; yet he shall not see it, though he shall die there. 14 I will scatter to every wind all who are around him to help him, and all his troops; and I will draw out the sword after them.

15 "Then they shall know that I am the LORD, when I scatter them among the nations and disperse them throughout the countries. 16 But I will spare a few of their men from the sword, from famine, and from pestilence, that they may declare all their abominations among the Gentiles wherever they go. Then they shall know that I am the LORD."

Judah's captivity was portrayed by Ezekiel digging through a wall at night as a thief digs to steal with his face covered so he could not see where he was putting his feet as he went into captivity to Babylon.  That was the visual prophetic message to Judah, escape as a thief in the night, just as judgment will come to us all in the end who are not in Christ when He returns to take us from the captivity of sin to be with Him (1 Thessalonians 5:2, 2 Peter 3:10, 13).  The rebellious people of God, however, did not have eyes to see nor ears to hear the clear message of the warning of judgment into captivity.  He dug through the wall so all could see even if they were unable to fully grasp what the LORD was saying through the acting out by Ezekiel.  He bore the burdensome weight of his belongings and covered his face from seeing where he was headed, just as even the richest ruler among them would do when taken captive in their sin to Babylon.  These would be carried off yet not see that destination and die there.  All the armies of the leaders would be scattered and killed by the sword for their rejection of the LORD.  This was a testimony to all who observed these things as they were disperse in the ungodly nations, but a remnant would be spared to bear witness of these adverse things to warn others by their testimony of God’s wrath in judgment on those who should have been following Him instead of living for sin.  Then they would know who the LORD is.  We also have the message of the gospel which illuminates the coming wrath of justice and judgment of God’s righteousness.  Many will see and hear but not take it to heart because their eyes and ears have been kept shut by God in their rejection of that good news.  They accept bad news of judgment by ignoring its reality and giving glory and honor to God alone.  We all have been taken into the captivity of sin and only escape through Him, not by attempting to escape by our own hands through the walls with all our possessions as our treasure instead of Him and His work to free us from that imprisonment.  He will return as a thief in the night, but to steal us away instead.  That is the warning and certain hope we possess.