They doubted the seriousness of God’s message, but the prophet’s warnings were very real and relevant to Israel’s destiny.
When the prophet Ezekiel, who lived during the time of the Babylonian exile (approximately 593-571 BC), cries out in frustration, he says, “Then I said, ‘Ah Lord GOD! They are saying of me, ‘Is he not just speaking parables?’” (Ezekiel 20:49). This moment captures Ezekiel’s predicament: he delivers messages from God, yet his audience dismisses them as nothing more than cryptic stories. Ezekiel’s calling, which occurs during Judah’s captivity, emphasizes that his words—though sometimes perplexing—are direct communications from the LORD rather than mere allegories. The prophet conveys Israel’s sins, God’s judgment, and future hope, all while wrestling with a people who choose not to grasp the gravity of his message.
Ezekiel’s statement, “They are saying of me, ‘Is he not just speaking parables?’” (Ezekiel 20:49), highlights the challenge faced by prophets in the Old Testament. In many instances, prophets employed images and symbolic visions to illustrate divine truths, much like Jesus would later do in the New Testament (Matthew 13:34). Yet the resistance Ezekiel encounters reflects a broader human tendency to dismiss a difficult or convicting message by labeling it “unclear” or “just a story.” The prophet stands on the timeline of Israel’s history right before its culminating judgment at the hands of Babylon, seeking to warn and instruct God’s people, whose hearts remain hard.
By declaring, “Ah Lord GOD!” Ezekiel expresses exasperation, acknowledging that his dramatic portrayals of judgment have not yielded understanding among his listeners. This frustration parallels the reactions some had toward Jesus’ parables, as many in His day were also resistant to truths presented in a figurative form (Mark 4:10-12). Though the medium may shift from Old Testament prophetic imagery to New Testament parables, the principle remains: God communicates earnestly, yet people often misinterpret or dismiss His message.
Ezekiel calls his people to hear God’s voice, not to trivialize it as mere symbolic storytelling.
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Ezekiel 20:49 meaning
When the prophet Ezekiel, who lived during the time of the Babylonian exile (approximately 593-571 BC), cries out in frustration, he says, “Then I said, ‘Ah Lord GOD! They are saying of me, ‘Is he not just speaking parables?’” (Ezekiel 20:49). This moment captures Ezekiel’s predicament: he delivers messages from God, yet his audience dismisses them as nothing more than cryptic stories. Ezekiel’s calling, which occurs during Judah’s captivity, emphasizes that his words—though sometimes perplexing—are direct communications from the LORD rather than mere allegories. The prophet conveys Israel’s sins, God’s judgment, and future hope, all while wrestling with a people who choose not to grasp the gravity of his message.
Ezekiel’s statement, “They are saying of me, ‘Is he not just speaking parables?’” (Ezekiel 20:49), highlights the challenge faced by prophets in the Old Testament. In many instances, prophets employed images and symbolic visions to illustrate divine truths, much like Jesus would later do in the New Testament (Matthew 13:34). Yet the resistance Ezekiel encounters reflects a broader human tendency to dismiss a difficult or convicting message by labeling it “unclear” or “just a story.” The prophet stands on the timeline of Israel’s history right before its culminating judgment at the hands of Babylon, seeking to warn and instruct God’s people, whose hearts remain hard.
By declaring, “Ah Lord GOD!” Ezekiel expresses exasperation, acknowledging that his dramatic portrayals of judgment have not yielded understanding among his listeners. This frustration parallels the reactions some had toward Jesus’ parables, as many in His day were also resistant to truths presented in a figurative form (Mark 4:10-12). Though the medium may shift from Old Testament prophetic imagery to New Testament parables, the principle remains: God communicates earnestly, yet people often misinterpret or dismiss His message.
Ezekiel calls his people to hear God’s voice, not to trivialize it as mere symbolic storytelling.