The Bible Recap – Day 239 (Ezekiel 1-4) – Year 7

Host: Tara-Leigh Cobble
Date: August 27, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Tara-Leigh Cobble guides listeners through the opening chapters of Ezekiel (1-4), providing background on the prophet’s unique calling and personality, unpacking his vivid first vision, and highlighting the symbolic actions God instructs him to perform. The episode focuses on the theme of God’s purposeful design—both in individuals like Ezekiel and in His unfolding plan with Israel—and underscores the lengths God goes to reveal Himself to His people.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction to Ezekiel the Prophet

• Background on Ezekiel:
  • Ezekiel, exiled to Babylon during the first deportation in 597 BC, starts prophesying there at age 30—a time he would traditionally begin his priestly service if not for exile.
  • God appoints him as a prophet instead, with a distinctive, detail-oriented personality.
• Ezekiel’s Personality:
  • Tara-Leigh compares Ezekiel to that friend who obsessively corrects details:
    • "He's like the friend who corrects you when you say, it took us half an hour to get here by saying, actually, it was only 25 minutes, and that includes stopping for gas." (00:57)
  • Despite his specificity, he keeps the main theme central: “Then they will know that I am the Lord.”

2. Ezekiel’s First Vision (Ch. 1)

• Describing the Vision:
  • Ezekiel uses phrases like “appearance of” or “likeness of” to emphasize that he’s approximating the indescribable.
  • He sees living creatures (later* identified as cherubim*) with four wings and four faces, capable of seeing and moving in every direction.
    • “Each cherub seems to be attached to a sort of gyroscope covered in eyes, so. So he can not only see in all directions simultaneously, but also move in any direction easily.” (03:06)
• Cherubim vs. Seraphim:
  • Mnemonic: Seraphim = Six wings; Cherubim (like a chair) = Four faces/wings.
• The Throne and God’s Presence:
  • God appears on a throne amid rainbows, fire, light, metals, and jewels.

3. The Spirit’s Role & Ezekiel’s Call (Ch. 2-3)

• The Spirit Lifts Ezekiel:
  • Notable that “the Spirit enters into him”—rare in the Old Testament.
    • “It's interesting that the Spirit entered him. We've talked about this before, but this is rare for the Old Testament...” (05:29)
  • Includes ‘teleportation’ moments and prepares Ezekiel for his prophetic mission.
• The Scroll Incident:
  • God commands Ezekiel to eat a scroll with writing on both sides (likely papyrus).
    • “So it's a vegan scroll. And yes, if you ask me, I think he actually ate an actual scroll. He's an Old Testament prophet. They do weird stuff like this all the time.” (06:39)
  • This act symbolizes internalizing God’s message before delivering it to Israel—despite their anticipated rejection.

4. The Challenge of Ezekiel’s Audience

• Commission to the Exiles:
  • Ezekiel is sent to speak to Judah’s exiles, not the Babylonians.
    • “God says the Babylonians would have listened, but the exiles of Judah won't. Their hearts are hard, and that's more challenging to overcome than a language barrier any day.” (07:25)
  • Ezekiel spends a week in silence among them before being told to deliver God’s word.

5. Ezekiel Acts Out the Siege (Ch. 4)

• Prophetic Symbolism:
  • God instructs Ezekiel to:
    • Build a model of Jerusalem’s siege
    • Lie on his left side for 390 days, then right for 40—representing years of Israel and Judah’s punishment
      • “That's nearly 14 months total. That's longer than it's taking us to read through the Bible.” (08:03)
    • Ration food and water, cooking it over (originally) human dung, later permitted to use animal dung—highlighting the desperation of the exiles’ situation
      • “This is a humbling, desperate situation where Ezekiel is given the opportunity to physically experience what the exiles are spiritually experiencing... This is a picture of Christ, just like Ezekiel has to bear this burden for the sins of the people. Christ bore our burdens.” (08:50)

6. God’s Law and the Weight of Prophetic Responsibility

• Case Law Structure:
  • God outlines responsibility: Ezekiel’s failure to warn equals culpability for those who die unwarned.
  • “All sin gets the death penalty. This makes me really grateful for Jesus. And since Ezekiel's failure to warn people is equated with murder, God says if he fails to warn the people, he'll get the death penalty too.” (08:24)
• Temporary Muteness:
  • God also temporarily renders Ezekiel mute to underline the seriousness and sequence of his prophetic acts.

7. Personal Reflection & Application

• God’s Intentional Design:
  • Tara-Leigh relates Ezekiel’s God-given stubbornness to her own personality journey, encouraging listeners to appreciate their unique design:
    • “For most of my life I didn't like much about the way God made me. I wanted to be 5’2” and introverted... these verses in Ezekiel were a great comfort to me because they reminded me that God is intentional about how he makes each of us.” (09:00)
    • “His design for me was consistent with his purpose for me... my personality isn't for me, it's for his glory...” (09:14)
    • “He has plans for you too. However, he made each of us. It was on purpose and it wasn't just intentional, it was kind. His plans are good, his heart is kind, and he's where the joy is.” (09:29)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Ezekiel’s personality:
  “He's like the friend who corrects you when you say, it took us half an hour to get here by saying, actually, it was only 25 minutes, and that includes stopping for gas.” (00:57)
• On cherubim vs. seraphim:
  “Seraphim have six wings, and the words seraphim and six both start with S, and the word cherubim sounds like a chair which has four legs, like the four wings and the four faces of the cherubim.” (03:51)
• On bearing burdens:
  “This is a picture of Christ, just like Ezekiel has to bear this burden for the sins of the people. Christ bore our burdens.” (08:50)
• Personal gratitude for God’s design:
  “His design for me was consistent with his purpose for me... my personality isn't for me, it's for his glory and I want him to continue to refine it and sanctify it and use it to accomplish his plans.” (09:14)
• Encouragement to all personality types:
  “For those of you who are five two and introverted, you're not off the hook. He has plans for you too. However, he made each of us. It was on purpose and it wasn't just intentional, it was kind. His plans are good, his heart is kind, and he's where the joy is.” (09:29)

Important Timestamps

• 00:02 – Introduction to Ezekiel and his exile
• 00:57 – Ezekiel’s detail-oriented personality
• 03:06 – Explanation of cherubim and their symbolic meaning
• 05:29 – The Spirit enters Ezekiel in a special way
• 06:39 – The scroll is eaten—“vegan scroll” explanation
• 07:25 – Ezekiel’s audience: the hardened exiles
• 08:03 – The siege model, lying on sides, symbolic actions
• 08:50 – Parallels to Christ’s suffering and bearing of burdens
• 09:00 – Personal application: God’s purpose in our design
• 09:29 – Encouragement: You are made on purpose, for a purpose

Summary

This episode offers a deep yet accessible look at Ezekiel’s opening visions and actions, drawing spiritual parallels for modern listeners. Through vivid explanation of biblical symbols and personal anecdotes, Tara-Leigh Cobble encourages listeners to embrace their unique God-given traits and remember that God’s plans are always kind and purposeful—even in seasons that seem confusing or challenging.