Ezekiel And God's Order To Lockdown

 "Lockdown" is a word that is becoming a trend nowadays in connection with the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic crisis faced by the world. We find everywhere this word; in radio, television, newspapers, magazines, and social media. The word lockdown has the definition: "an emergency measure or condition in which people are temporarily prevented from entering or leaving a restricted area or building (such as a school) during a threat of danger."1

When many countries apply lockdown and social distancing rules to stop the spread of COVID-19, these rules have caused many problems in society. They paralyze economic activity, many people have lost their jobs, schools are on break, many people are starving because it is difficult to get food because many shops are closed, and many other difficulties have arisen because of this problem.

As God's people, we are not to worry about every situation we experience, including this coronavirus crisis. Instead of focusing on each difficulty and sinking in fear, let's look at the positive side of this crisis. Let's see this crisis as an opportunity to test our faith, to be genuine before God. The Apostle James advised "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature  and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4 NIV).

From many Bible stories that can relate to lockdown, let us learn from the experience of the prophet Ezekiel when he faced God's command of lockdown and social distancing in Ezekiel chapters 3 and 4. From this story, let us find out the trials or tests that faced by Ezekiel and how he can get through it, and why do we need these tests to become God's people with genuine faith at the end time crisis. From many tests Ezekiel experienced in these two chapters, let's take the 3 biggest tests.

The first test faced by Ezekiel was the test of obedience (Ezekiel 4:1-3). God told Ezekiel to take bricks and carve on the besieged city of Jerusalem (v. 1), with a siege fortress, a wall of siege, and an army camp (v. 2). God asked Ezekiel to carve out the siege in detail (v. 3). We don't know how long Ezekiel carved the solid bricks, maybe a week or a month, but Ezekiel obeyed God, even Ezekiel wanted to obey all of God's strange requests throughout this chapter. Ezekiel obeyed everything.

When the Government gives directions for lockdowns at home and to maintain social distancing do we comply? There are still many people who don't want to obey that direction. Especially when the Government made a regulation that all churches must be closed. Many Christians think they have committed a great sin, because they do not worship in the church and only at home, and feel that they are more fearful of the government than of God. But we have to remember that the Government is a servant of God (Rm. 13) who acts for the welfare of His people and in this case, the government's recommendations are very good for protecting our bodies which are the temple of God (1 Cor. 3: 16,17). Oswald Chambers writes "The golden rule for understanding spiritually is not intellect, but obedience."2

Obedience must be the character of God's people at the end of time. Jesus said that when we obey His commands, that is proof that we love Him, "If you love me, keep my commands." (John 14:15 NIV). He also said about the blessing of obedience, "If you keep my commands,  you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love" (John 15:10 NIV). Obedience makes us as God's favorite treasure (see also Exodus 19:5).

The second test, faced by Ezekiel, is the test of loyalty (Ezekiel 4:4-8). God not only asked Ezekiel to carve the brick, but God also asked him to be bound in a reclining position while looking closely at the brick carving (v. 4). God determines the position of the bond, and God Himself holds it together (v. 8). Ezekiel was bound as a symbol of the siege for 390 days for the kingdom of Israel and 40 days for the kingdom of Judah (vv. 5-7), so the time he bound by "lockdown" was 430 days (1 Year and 2 months).

We can imagine how bored Ezekiel looked at the carved bricks and how painful it was to bound in one position - and never change positions - for one year and two months. Imagine you sleep and do not change positions in a few hours, what happens? Your body will feel pain.

The best test for loyalty is time. Ezekiel is faithful to God's commands, he does not do it only in one day, one week, or a month, then becomes bored and stops, but he is faithful to do it until the end of the time God asks him to do that is up to 1 Year 2 Months.