Footprints of God
And on the ninth day of the fourth month the famine prevailed in the city, and there was no bread for the people of the land.
4 And the city was broken up, and all the men of war fled by night by the way of the gate between two walls, which is by the king's garden: (now the Chaldees were against the city round about:) and the king went the way toward the plain. And the army of the Chaldees pursued after the king, and overtook him in the plains of Jericho: and all his army were scattered from him.
6 So they took the king, and brought him up to the king of Babylon to Riblah; and they gave judgment upon him
2 Kings 25:3-6
The long-awaited day has now came when the Babylonians finally arrived to carry the people off. It was actually the Chaldeans that came but it should be seen that they acted on behalf of the Babylonians. They were sort of like the travel agents for this trip away from home if you will. Only, they were far more than that, weren't they. They can be seen here acting as divine instruments for God's judgment. You know, for turning away from the Lord, serving other gods, and in short doing whatever they wanted. Remember, this was the southern kingdom of Judah that was set upon this time. The northern kingdom of Israel had already been taken away by the previous so-called dispersion.
In reality though, it was more of a captivity. Here the southern kingdom or tribes are getting ready to go through a similar thing just as the prophets foretold and as God had once said. Here whatever he said would happen has most definitely happened. If it has not, that is because there is more of the future still yet to come. But not too much is left of that, with new things being fulfilled every day. Remember, that's the main test of the prophet that what was said indeed came to pass. Otherwise, it's all just a load of mumbo-jumbo.
We see the Chaldeans indeed have arrived as promised in the text. Yet their method of operation sure is funny. If you notice the very first thing they go for is the king and his sons. History tells how they put out the eyes of the king and slew his own sons before him. At the same time though, the captured king was treated kindly in Babylon. So he was fed and kept daily in a comfortable house until the day of his death. The reasons for this are many and varied ranging anywhere from politics to one of convenience. The main issue though is that a bad leader in positions of power can be responsible for a whole list of things due to their influence on the people under their care. When the leaders of Judah went bad and forsook the Lord, they did whatever they wanted.
So, the people suffered for it. Zedekiah, the last of these kings, and the ones before that, did whatever they wanted thereby causing a rebellion. The captured King Zedekiah also led the people to do the same which had not been done before up until then. The main issues here were the fact that Zedekiah and the ones before had been appointed keepers of the people. They kept only a portion though, sort of like probation, while the rest were away in Babylon. His rebellion proved him most incapable of ruling which caused him to be removed along with the rest of the people. Thus, the people were taken away for safekeeping. Zedekiah's sons also were slain though he himself was blinded but allowed to live for a time.
Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river of Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.
In the fifth day of the month, which was the fifth year of king Jehoiachin's captivity,
3 The word of the LORD came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the LORD was there upon him.
Ezekiel 1:1-3
We see good old Ezekiel sitting here in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar. Now I'm not exactly sure where ancient Chaldees were located. However, these were more than likely responsible for keeping the rest of the people up till this point. Remember, there was once the two kingdoms which together made up a people. The Chaldeans appear as travel agents very briefly working alongside of Babylon, then disappearing completely from off the scene. Let's see if anyone knows where these might have gone.
Behold the land of the Chaldeans; this people was not, till the Assyrian founded it for them that dwell in the wilderness: they set up the towers thereof, they raised up the palaces thereof; and he brought it to ruin.
Isaiah 23:13
That's right, they're closely tied in with the Assyrians to whom these were indebted. The Assyrians had given the Chaldeans land, cities, and places to dwell. As future searches find, the Chaldeans also found strength in their ships. Jeremiah 24:5 told of the vision of two baskets of figs. Yet here lies the problem. The Babylonians and the Chaldeans ran together very closely. So close did they run, that their own name could scarcely be breathed without the other being far behind or apart.
Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for their good.
From there, the Chaldeans ran throughout the whole earth, I'm afraid. Whatever has happened, it is clear history has left hardly a trace. Perhaps these are the northern ten tribes that made up Israel. Thus, is it quite possibly the last heard from it as it ran through the land until nearly two thousand years later as the captivity returned. Could it be? Maybe, maybe not. Who knows? What do you think? Regardless, there is a certain communication between the two up till this point. Perhaps no one is ever too lost for our God to find. Ezekiel then, in this strange land, not long after the kings of Judah have been taken is seeing the Lord. He's in the spirit on the banks of a river, much like Daniel did in Babylon so many years after. Only now they're seeing the end of all things.
Let's look at the star cluster responsible for creating this shape. See how the bottom conforms to the shape of the feet. There's the little arch right there near the end. Depending on where the weight is located, it's evenly placed. Then at the back, see where it follows the shape of the leg. Up at the top though remains to be seen, as it curls around back making space for a shoelace, as though it were a close-fitting sandal or shoe to be seen. The shoe must have been branded though for these are unique. There's no stars there between the flat and the top of the shoe. That's because it looks like someone's already gotten them pretty well unlaced.
The only thing keeping them on then is the weight of the foot. It's just like my pup and my footwear as he tries to worry them free. Such a pair of shoes too must have a poor owner. See how the bottoms of them have worn to the floor. The picture speaks to an owner who has tried desperately hard to keep up. How often has God promised to walk with his people. Yet how many times do we trust him to actually do. Then to stick it so high up there in the sky means the one who did so must have an unlimited amount of supply.
Abib (4th) - March / Pisces, footprints of God