Ezekiel kicks off his official ministry in chapter 4--or his "acting career"--through what we might call street theatre, or what's referred to as sign-acts. Sign-acts were a key part of a prophet's toolkit: dramatic actions designed to reinforce their message so that people wouldn't just hear and think, but also see and feel it.

In this passage, Ezekiel is called to use striking visual drama in a bizarre, shocking and sustained way as a sign to Israel, communicating God's judgment, justice, and wrath through the coming siege of Jerusalem. Ezekiel 4 invites us to wrestle with what it means to be a set-apart, covenant people saved by the grace of God. It forces us to face the reality of sin, its ramifications, and what sin leads to: death. This text makes us think and feel deeply.

Ezekiel 4 isn't just an ancient story or a strange history lesson--it has strong application and takeaways for us today. And even here, there is hope: God keeps a remnant, and in Christ, he offers us true restoration and peace.