Ever wondered what would happen if God sent His prophet to the barbershop? In Ezekiel chapter 5, we witness one of Scripture's most unusual prophetic demonstrations as Ezekiel is commanded to take a sword, shave his head and beard, and perform a series of symbolic actions with his hair.

Far from being merely theatrical, this peculiar haircut serves as a powerful visual prophecy about Jerusalem's impending destruction. The sword used as a razor foreshadows the violence awaiting the city. The careful weighing of the hair on scales represents divine judgment against God's standard. Each third of the hair meets a different fate – burning, cutting, and scattering – vividly illustrating the three ways Jerusalem's inhabitants would perish: by fire during the siege, by sword in battle, and through exile to foreign lands.

Most poignant is the small remnant of hair Ezekiel tucks into his garment hem, symbolizing the faithful few God would preserve. Yet even from this protected remnant, some hairs are cast into fire, delivering a sobering message that even God's people aren't immune from accountability.

The prophecy pulls no punches with its graphic language of famine, wild beasts, and God declaring "my eye will have no pity and I will not spare." This rarely-preached aspect of God's character challenges our modern tendency to emphasize divine love while ignoring divine justice. As one listener noted, "We've created a caricature of God as a sugar-coated uncle who brings presents on our birthday."

This episode forces us to wrestle with difficult questions: How do we reconcile God's love with His wrath? Why don't churches address God's judgment more often? What does this mean for believers today who think membership in God's remnant guarantees immunity from consequences? Join us as we reason through these challenging passages and discover their timeless relevance for contemporary faith.

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May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

A clay model of Jerusalem under siege. A prophet lying on his side for 390 days. Bread cooked over animal dung. These aren't theatrical props—they're God's dramatic teaching methods deployed through the prophet Ezekiel to convey urgent messages to an obstinate people.

When words alone fail to penetrate hardened hearts, God escalates to visual demonstrations. As we explore Ezekiel chapter 4, we discover how the prophet became a living object lesson, enacting bizarre but powerful scenarios that would have drawn crowds and sparked conversations throughout the exiled community in Babylon.

The symbolism runs deep—an iron plate representing the separation sin creates between God and His people, precise day counts (390 for Israel, 40 for Judah) showing God's meticulous accounting of rebellion, and severely restricted food rations depicting the coming horrors of Jerusalem's siege. Each element conveyed what the exiles refused to believe: Jerusalem would fall, the temple would be destroyed, and their hopes of quick return were false.

What makes these ancient demonstrations relevant today? The fundamental human condition remains unchanged—we all face the iron barrier of sin. But where Ezekiel could only symbolize the problem, we encounter its solution through Christ, who tore the temple curtain and removed the separation.

The prophetic reliability displayed in Ezekiel challenges us too. Those same principles of accountability and divine discipline extend to modern believers, as the letters to the seven churches in Revelation make clear. God's love doesn't make Him lenient toward persistent rebellion—whether in ancient Israel or today's church.

Journey with us through these peculiar prophetic acts and discover timeless lessons about sin's ugliness, God's precision in judgment, and the extraordinary lengths He goes to communicate with those He loves. Subscribe to be notified as soon as new episodes are published and join us as we continue through Ezekiel's remarkably relevant ancient message.

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May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

What does it take to stand firm when delivering God's message to a resistant audience? The extraordinary account of Ezekiel's commissioning reveals how God equips His messengers for seemingly impossible tasks.

Ezekiel chapter 3 takes us deep into the prophet's preparation for ministry to the rebellious house of Israel. The divine encounter begins with a remarkable symbolic act - Ezekiel consuming a scroll filled with "lamentations and mournings" that tastes "sweet as honey." This powerful paradox captures the essence of God's Word - though often containing difficult truths, it remains sweet to those who submit to Him. For believers today facing challenging biblical teachings, this offers profound reassurance that even hard truths ultimately work for our good.

God doesn't sugarcoat the difficulty of Ezekiel's mission. Instead of sending him with encouraging promises of success, God bluntly states that Israel won't listen because "they are not willing to listen to Me." But rather than lowering expectations, God equips Ezekiel with supernatural stubbornness: "I have made your face as hard as their faces and your forehead as hard as their foreheads." This divine empowerment resonates with anyone who has felt inadequate for spiritual challenges - God never sends us into battle without proper equipment.

The central metaphor of Ezekiel as "watchman" establishes a sobering principle about spiritual responsibility. Like sentinels on ancient city walls who sounded alarms about approaching danger, believers today must exercise discernment and warn others about false teaching. The passage makes clear that failing to speak truth when necessary makes us partially responsible for others' spiritual destruction. This timeless principle challenges modern Christians to lovingly but firmly confront deception rather than remaining silent for the sake of false peace.

Join us as we reason through this extraordinary prophetic commission that remains surprisingly relevant for anyone seeking to represent God faithfully in a resistant world. Whether you're facing opposition in sharing your faith or struggling to stand firm in biblical truth, Ezekiel's story offers both encouragement and profound spiritual wisdom.

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May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

Ever wondered what goes into creating detailed Bible studies that reach across continents? Pull up a chair as we share a rare behind-the-scenes look at Reasoning Through the Bible.

After three and a half years of consistent teaching, we've produced over 550 episodes covering 22% of Scripture. That's thousands of verses examined and explained, all while maintaining our commitment to start where the average churchgoer is comfortable and gradually elevate understanding to deeper theological concepts. The goal has never changed: provide thorough Bible teaching that serves both casual learners and theology enthusiasts.

What began as two Bible teachers recording lessons has grown into a global ministry reaching 128 countries and over 1,900 cities worldwide. Our approach is distinctive—verse-by-verse study without skipping the challenging passages, offering theological insight without overwhelming detail, all while creating free resources churches can use. Every book study includes downloadable teacher guides and student materials designed for small groups and Bible classes.

Your support has allowed us to expand our reach while remaining focused on Scripture. Rather than spending 15+ hours weekly on editing, we now direct that time toward research and teaching. Soon, we'll establish a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and explore live streaming to connect more directly with listeners.

Whether you're listening during your commute, teaching a Bible study using our materials, or simply seeking deeper understanding of Scripture, we invite you to partner with us. Share our resources with friends, consider supporting financially through options on our website, or simply pray for this ministry. Together, we can continue making comprehensive Bible teaching accessible to anyone seeking to understand God's Word more deeply.

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May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

What does it mean to truly consume God's Word? In Ezekiel's remarkable commissioning narrative, we witness a prophet who literally eats a divine scroll as preparation for ministry.

After experiencing the overwhelming majesty of God's presence in chapter 1, Ezekiel finds himself face-down in worship. But before he can speak for God, something extraordinary must happen. The Spirit enters him, setting him on his feet and empowering him for the challenging task ahead. This powerful sequence reveals a timeless principle: no one can stand before God or perform His work without divine empowerment.

God doesn't sugarcoat Ezekiel's assignment. Repeatedly referring to Israel as "rebellious," "stubborn," and "obstinate," God prepares the prophet for significant resistance. Yet whether they listen or not, Ezekiel must faithfully deliver the divine message.

The most striking element comes when God extends a hand holding a scroll covered with "lamentations, mourning and woe." Ezekiel is commanded to eat it – a vivid metaphor for internalizing God's message before proclaiming it. This symbolic action connects directly to Revelation 10, where John experiences a similar prophetic meal, highlighting the continuity between these apocalyptic books.

For believers today, this passage offers profound insights about spiritual nourishment. Just as physical sustenance requires daily intake, our souls need regular feeding on Scripture. Through devotional reading, systematic study, memorization, or verse-by-verse exploration, we must internalize God's Word for it to transform us from within.

Join us as we explore how God prepares His messengers through the power of His Spirit and the nourishment of His Word. Whether you're facing your own "rebellious house" or simply seeking deeper spiritual sustenance, Ezekiel's commissioning offers timeless wisdom for every believer's journey.

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May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

Have you ever wondered what God's arrival somewhere actually looks like? Ezekiel chapter 1 gives us perhaps the most vivid glimpse found anywhere in Scripture—and it's absolutely mind-bending.

Glenn and Steve dive deep into the prophet's extraordinary vision, exploring the whirlwind of fire, the four-faced living creatures, the mysterious wheels within wheels covered with eyes, and the overwhelming splendor that caused Ezekiel to fall flat on his face in reverent awe. But rather than getting lost in symbolic interpretations, they focus on experiencing the emotional impact and theological significance of this cosmic encounter.

The conversation reveals how modern believers have often domesticated our concept of God into something comfortable and manageable. Biblical encounters with the divine were never casual—they were overwhelming, sometimes leaving prophets physically ill for days afterward. This should make us skeptical of contemporary claims about casual heavenly visits where people claim to high-five Jesus or treat Him like an ordinary friend.

What emerges from this exploration is a portrait of God whose omniscience is depicted through beings with faces looking in every direction and wheels covered with watchful eyes. His omnipresence and responsiveness are illustrated through supernatural mobility in any direction without turning. His transformative glory causes everything in His presence to shine with reflected light.

Most profoundly, the hosts reflect on the theological depth of this vision: "Would we really want a God we could fully understand and explain? That's not really a God—it's a pet or a machine." True divinity transcends our comprehension while inviting our worship.

Whether you're a longtime Bible student or just curious about Scripture's more mysterious passages, this episode offers fresh insights into the awesome nature of God and reminds us that approaching Him requires both reverence and wonder. Take a journey with us beyond the veil and discover a God who's bigger, more glorious, and more present than you might have imagined.

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May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

God speaks loudest when His people aren't listening. The prophet Ezekiel knew this challenge intimately, serving a "hard-headed" community of Jewish exiles who had lost their homeland, their temple, and seemingly their connection to God. Rather than just delivering another sermon, God directed Ezekiel to become a living demonstration—building miniature siege works, tunneling through walls, lying motionless for months, and employing bizarre visual aids that couldn't be ignored.

What makes Ezekiel such a fascinating prophet is how thoroughly God documented His messages. Eleven times throughout this prophetic book, we find precisely dated revelations that create a 22-year ministry timeline beginning July 31, 593 BC. This meticulous dating wasn't just for historical accuracy; it established divine authority for messages that often contradicted what people wanted to hear. While false prophets promised a quick return from exile, Ezekiel delivered the uncomfortable truth that restoration would follow a lengthy period of judgment.

The book's clear three-part structure illuminates God's larger purposes: chapters 1-24 pronounce judgment against rebellious Israel, chapters 25-39 address the surrounding nations, and chapters 40-48 provide hope through promises of future restoration. This organizational framework offers crucial context for interpreting Ezekiel's challenging visions, especially his detailed temple prophecies that have perplexed readers for centuries.

Perhaps most encouraging is the realization that Ezekiel himself was an ordinary person transformed by extraordinary divine encounter. When "the hand of the Lord" came upon him, this displaced priest became a powerful messenger. The same principle applies to us—our effectiveness in ministry doesn't depend on innate abilities but on God's empowering presence working through willing vessels.

Whether you're familiar with prophecy or approaching these ancient texts for the first time, join us in this verse-by-verse exploration of Ezekiel's remarkable visions, dramatic object lessons, and timeless message of judgment and restoration. Subscribe to our podcast and visit reasoningthroughthebible.com for free study materials to help you navigate this prophetic masterpiece.

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May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

What happens when your soul begins to leave your body? Terry Wright knows that feeling intimately. Terry founded Lifeline Pregnancy Center, combining her nursing background with her passion for supporting women in crisis pregnancies. The center provides education, material support, and shares the gospel with every client.

While standing at a copy machine at Lifeline, she suddenly collapsed and was taken to the Emergency Room. While there, a shocking discovery was made. Her heart was failing. But why?

In this powerful conversation, Terry shares her extraordinary journey from sudden collapse to heart failure that left doctors puzzled. With no prior cardiovascular issues, she found herself declining rapidly until she was hospitalized, waiting for a donor heart while actively dying.

Terry takes us to the edge of mortality itself, describing with remarkable clarity how she felt her soul slowly separating from her weakening body. The medical staff's hushed tones told her family "this is what happens at the end of the end." As she prepared to meet Jesus, Terry's overwhelming regret wasn't about missed vacations or career achievements – it was that she hadn't done more for God's Kingdom.

Then came the miracle. A late-night call announced a perfectly matched heart was available. The emotional whiplash of moving from death's doorstep to a second chance at life led Terry to profound spiritual insights about God's authority and timing. Her meeting with the donor family – who lost their 18-year-old daughter but honored her wish to donate organs – reveals the beautiful redemption possible even in tragedy.

Her powerful testimony illustrates how God's promises become real when we fully surrender to His purposes.

Whether you're facing life-altering challenges or simply questioning your purpose, Terry's journey will inspire you to consider how you're using your own "window of opportunity." What race has God set before you? The clock is ticking for all of us – what will you do with the time you've been given?

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May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve