Charades (Ezekiel 3:26-27)

When I was 10 years old, I participated in a series of interviews as part of the application process to attend a private school in Hawaii. At the end of the interviews, all of the applicants were gathered in a classroom to play a game of charades. It was a chance to relax and decompress after the stress of the day but ostensibly, it was an opportunity for the administrators to observe how the applicants would perform in a group setting.

I still remember my assignment. It was the movie, “Planet of the Apes.” I quickly acted out a movie projector, then proceeded to sign the number four with my hand, indicating four words in the title. Then I designated the last word and did my best imitation of an ape, to the laughter of the audience, who immediately shouted, “Planet of the Apes!”

Mission accomplished! Charades got my message across. A few months later, I received my acceptance letter!

I will make your tongue cling to the roof of your mouth, so that you shall be mute and not be one to rebuke them, for they are a rebellious house. But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth, and you shall say to them, “Thus says the Lord God.” He who hears, let him hear; and he who refuses, let him refuse; for they are a rebellious house.

Ezekiel 3:26-27 (NKJV)

If I were sending a prophet to Israel, I would make sure he had strong speaking skills. So what does God do? He informs Ezekiel he would be mute, his tongue clinging to the roof his mouth! Instead of speaking, Ezekiel would have to act out God’s prophecy! He proceeded to create a series of clay tablets surrounded by an iron tablet, depicting the impending siege of Jerusalem. He lay on his left side for three hundred ninety days, depicting the hundreds of years that Israel had been living in carnality, and his right side for forty days, depicting the forty years Judah had been sinning.  It was an ancient game of charades that lasted for over a year! Oh my!

Mission accomplished! God knows what He is doing. His unorthodox means of communicating with the Israelites proclaimed His message loud and clear. This is our God, turning expectations upside down because His ways are not ours!

Praise God!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.