We recently did something different in our Ezekiel Bible study. Instead of studying a particular chapter and discussing it, we spent the next hour simply taking turns reading the chapters. It’s apparently an ancient practice to simply read the Bible and let it speak for itself instead of digging in and searching for meaning with every word or phrase. We managed to read the first sixteen chapters.

While it took a few chapters for me to get used to the idea, after a while I was able to see the overall, big picture of the intent of Ezekiel, and I noticed several things I had missed while studying the chapters one by one every week.

In the beginning of the book, God told Ezekiel what would happen to Israel due to their idolatry and other iniquities.

Because God’s punishment would be so severe, Ezekiel, understandably, feared he would witness all of Israel destroyed without a single remnant remaining. Twice he asked if God would destroy everyone, leaving not even a remnant of Israel (9:8 and 11:13), and twice God didn’t answer.

At least not until Chapter 14:22-23. In those verses, God answered him more beautifully than a simple yes or no when Ezekiel had originally asked.

I then realized, God still does that for us today. How often have I begged him for answers, worrying over whether or not what I hope for (or fear) will come to pass? Uncountable. Most of the time, like with Ezekiel, he either doesn’t answer at all, or he tells me to wait.

Wait. That horrible, terrible, no good, very bad, four-letter word.

In time, though, I do get my answers. I may not always like them, but in looking back, I’m glad he didn’t tell me when I first asked. For one thing, I probably wouldn’t have believed him. Yet I now realize, like Ezekiel, experiencing his answers instead of simply being told is far more powerful.