Ezekiel 33:21-22 – The Bible is undeniably accurate.

In Ezekiel 24, God imposed a silence on Ezekiel concerning his wife’s sudden death. He was forbidden to mourn nor weep over her death. For God wanted to use his tragedy as a message for the people. Just as sudden as his wife’s death, the beloved city of Jerusalem would also face a sudden destruction. Ezekiel not mourning the loss of his wife was to demonstrate that God would show no pity nor mourn the destruction of Jerusalem. In verses 25-27, Ezekiel was told that he could only speak about it until a survivor came with the news to inform him of the fall of Jerusalem to authenticate the prophecy.   

In Ezekiel 33:21 that moment has arrived. The coming of the refugee with the news of her fall meant that his imposed silence since his wife’s death would be lifted. The date he received the news was stated as “the twelfth year of our exile, on the fifth of the tenth month.” This would roughly be five months after the fall of Jerusalem. This fugitive who escaped from the fall of Jerusalem referred to in Ezekiel 24 came to the prophet in Babylon with the news.

The reason why it took so long for the news to reach Ezekiel was not given. However, we learn from Ezra 7 that it took Ezra about four months to return to Jerusalem from Babylon. The reason why it took five months for that refugee to arrive could well be that in that circumstance it would be more hazardous to make the journey from Jerusalem to Babylon. A journey in which he had to be more cautious.

Everything happened precisely as God through Ezekiel had stated. The precision according to Ezekiel 24:27 was to “…be a sign to them, and they will know that I am the LORD.” The truth of God and the accuracy of His word cannot be denied. The Scripture authenticates God and the accuracy of His Word. It will do us well to take time to study the Scripture and come to grips with the God we worship and serve.