“Son of man, propound a riddle, and speak a parable to the house of Israel;
The first thing we need to understand about this riddle is that it was sent to the house of Israel. Trying to solve the riddle without a deeper understanding of the conditions, beliefs and experience of the house of Israel means we are outside investigators.
Propound literally means to “tie a knot” and to solve the riddle is likened to untying the knot and examining both ends of the string or rope to see where it came from and where it is going. All strings have attachments. In this case the strings are attached to the house of Israel.
Untying the knot is a matter of discovering the truth being told by the one instructing the prophet in writing down the parable in the first place. That would be Father God.
Inverse 3 it is written “A great eagle with great wings and long pinions, rich in plumage of many colors, came to Lebanon and took the top of the cedar.”
Even before we can examine the issue of the meaning of eagle, plumage and pinions, we need to understand the relationship between the house of Israel and Lebanon at that time in history and not to attach our own personal understanding about them as we see it today. The knot was not tied today.
None of us living today were there then. Far be it from any one of us to now seek answers from historical archives that are not readily available to the common man or woman. We rely on historians who have done all the digging. What have they uncovered? Did they uncover the truth or are they mixing all the dirt they have discovered which will also contain what was laid upon the scene as a cover up. That is what dirt does, covers up the dead.
What is left for us, here today, to discover about the truth behind the reason the knot was tied in the first place?
We can always ask the author.
Now, here today, the mysteries have been unraveled by the life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ to the right hand throne of God. He has sent us the Spirit of truth to speak only truth.
What if His answer to our question on this matter comes back to us in the Word of God?
“If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!”
Some of us seek answers to questions we shouldn’t be asking.