“In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the exiles by the Chebar canal, the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.”
Ezekiel 1:1 ESV
Through the Bible: Ezekiel 1-4
If the Old Testament is a marathon, Ezekiel is Heartbreak Hill— that steep, half mile climb at Mile 20 of the 26.2 mile Boston Marathon course. It’s not the steepest hill in Boston, but it’s the timing that destroys people — late in the race, right when they’re exhausted, dehydrated, and mentally spent. After Heartbreak Hill, though, it’s mostly downhill into Boston.
That’s why it’s such a powerful metaphor for Ezekiel — one last brutal climb before the home stretch.
You’ve made it through the wilderness of Leviticus, the peaks and valleys of the kings, the gut-punch laments of Jeremiah. You’ve pushed through the aching slog of exile and judgment.
And then you hit this last, brutal climb.
Why Ezekiel Feels So Hard
- Symbolic Acts God asks Ezekiel to do things instead of just saying things, and the symbolism can feel strange without context.
- Long Oracles Chapters can stretch on with warnings against nations you’ve never heard of.
- Apocalyptic Imagery Wheels within wheels. Four living creatures. Rivers flowing from temples. It’s intense.
- Emotional Whiplash The book swings between God’s grief, His anger, and His promise to restore.
Where to Find Hope
If you stick with Ezekiel, you’ll find it isn’t just judgment. God’s grace keeps breaking through, if you know where to look:
- Chapter 11 – God promises to give His people a new heart and a new spirit.
- Chapter 18 – God delights when the wicked turn and live.
- Chapter 34 – The Good Shepherd Himself will come to rescue His sheep.
- Chapter 36 – “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you.”
- Chapter 37 – The Valley of Dry Bones — God breathes life into what seems dead.
- Chapters 40–48 – The vision of a renewed temple and God’s glory returning.
These moments are worth slowing down for. They remind us that exile isn’t the end, sin isn’t the end, death isn’t the end.
How to Survive the Climb
Ezekiel isn’t just doable— it can actually be enjoyable. Part of that is just doing the hard work of making Bible reading a habit. This year marks my thirtieth read through of the Bible, and it really does get better every time. Here are some tips that might help you.
- Read It in Big Chunks Ezekiel flows better when you read several chapters at once. You’ll see patterns and movements you’d miss one chapter at a time.
- Look for the Refrain Over 60 times, God says: “Then you will know that I am the Lord.” That’s the heartbeat of the book.
- Find Jesus in the Middle Every vision of restoration, every promise of a new heart, every picture of God dwelling with His people — it all points forward to Christ.
- Embrace the Weirdness Don’t get stuck trying to decode every symbol. Sometimes the strangeness is meant to shock us awake.
The Finish Line Is Coming
Ezekiel is a steep climb, but it’s not the last mile. Push through, and you get to Daniel’s lions, the fiery furnace, the beautiful book of Esther, and the return from exile in Ezra/Nehemiah. There are still a couple of minor prophets, and then — the New Testament.
When you finally cross the line into Matthew 1, you realize God’s promises in Ezekiel were always pointing there. Restoration. Renewal. Resurrection.
So lace up. Take a deep breath. You can survive Ezekiel.
And on the other side, you’ll find the view was worth the climb.
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