Living Parables

[Paul]

Ezekiel used ‘living parables’ to dramatize the fate of Israel. I have noticed that throughout the history of God’s people, God often calls his prophet, apostle, or spokesperson to personally experience what God himself is feeling, or to personify what the people as a whole are experiencing.

God sees his chosen people being unfaithful and worshipping other gods, so he calls Hosea to take an adulterous wife. God had run out of compassion for the Jews, so he tells Jeremiah there is to be no rejoicing nor mourning, no celebrations, weddings, parties, or funerals. Not to even pray for the people or the nation. God had decided his course of action. Jesus Christ was tortured and crucified, and he calls his disciples to take up their cross and follow, knowing that the cup they must drink will also mean torture and death.

Part of the cost of leadership in the Kingdom of God is being willing to personally live the message that God wants to communicate to men.