Ezekiel 12:25 For I am the Lord: I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass; it shall be no more prolonged: for in your days, O rebellious house, will I say the word, and will perform it, saith the Lord God.

God sends a word to Israel via Ezekiel informing them that He will say it and He will do it. Sadly for Israel He does not tell them exactly what He will say and do. Lucky us, we get to peak into the bible, fast forward a little bit and see what God said and did. What we should be looking for in this search is both timing and some prophetic message. Will it be that easy? Will it be worth it? Only by searching God’s word will we discover the answer to those questions.

What will aid us in our search? Since Israel was struggling with the words of God’s prophets should we look to what His prophets had to say? A chronological look at the prophets that came after Ezekiel renders a short list of prophets. A very short list. With our modern bible search tools we should be able to discover how God put an end to Israel’s displeasure with prophetic results.

Daniel 9:24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.

Key words for my search were found here in the book of Daniel. Those words were finish and seal up. Could this be God’s word as to how He intended to put an end to Israel’s private proverb? There is only one way to know for sure and that will be found in the history of what happened next. What happened during those seventy weeks?

Ezekiel 12:22 Son of man, what is that proverb that ye have in the land of Israel, saying, The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth?

Did you think to check out the proverb quoted? It is said to be in Israel but it is not listed in any of the Proverbs contained in any bible version I have read. A proverb by use in a common culture does not mean it was sent by God. How many times have we heard people use phrase that sound like bible speak but the words do not appear in the bible?

I would encourage all of us to validate scripture for accuracy, context and inclusion. If it is not in the bible then God is not bound by man’s opinion. If God said it, He is bound to His Word because God is not a liar. (Num 23:19, Heb 6:18)

²³ Tell them therefore, Thus saith the Lord God; I will make this proverb to cease, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel; but say unto them, The days are at hand, and the effect of every vision.

God could say that this proverb will cease because God was not the author. What is interesting to me is the last part of this verse, the days are at hand and the effect of every vision. Once again we are left with our understanding of when and what is about to happen. Is this one of God’s days in eternity or one of man’s days meaning in a matter of hours?

The issue is one of attitude and the use of a proverb not authored by God. Culture does not change overnight and the power of God to exact change is not always according to man’s understanding or in man’s timing.