EZEKIEL BREAD
Suggested Reading: Ezekiel 4-6
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
Bread is being cooked over a fire in Nazareth. The only recipe in the Bible is in today's reading. Ezekiel bread can be purchased at many health food stores across the country such as "Goodness Me" in Ontario, Canada. Of course one can bake their own fresh bread with this recipe.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: Ezekiel 4:9
Also take for yourself wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet, and spelt; put them into one vessel, and make bread of them for yourself. During the number of days that you lie on your side, three hundred and ninety days, you shall eat it.
Baking bread is the third of four visual object lessons Ezekiel was to preform in order to increase the impact of his message. Getting people to pay attention is more than half the battle in successfully communicating. Ezekiel was making sure that people who would hear him or read his words would know that the coming total destruction of Jerusalem and of the Temple of God did not take God by surprise and that God’s purpose to bring His people to repentance would become a fact in history. Following the Babylonian captivity, the Jewish people would never again fall into such evil practises, which they had committed during the times of the Judges and the Kings. They learned very hard lessons! How would it be known that they had repented? Ezekiel 6:9 states that “They shall loath themselves for the evils which they have committed.” True repentance produces a loathing for sin!
Three times Nebuchadnezzar took captives to Babylon from Jerusalem. Daniel came to Babylon in the first wave, Ezekiel 8 years later. Jeremiah was still in Jerusalem during this time, and finally the prophecies of both Jeremiah and Ezekiel were fulfilled 11 years after Ezekiel was taken to Babylon. By the time of Jerusalem’s destruction, Daniel had already been in Babylon for 19 years and was well established as a leader in that empire. Jeremiah was taken by force to Egypt by some of the leaders of Judah who survived the Babylonian siege.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, grant me daily the grace to repent! May I have a constant sense of true repentance, so that I will loath my sin and cry out strongly to You in my repentance and pray for repentance to take place in people’s hearts everywhere. Like Daniel and others in Babylon, I get Ezekiel’s message, and I pray that You will enable me to live a holy life before You and before people. I ask this in the Name of the only One who always lived a holy life, Jesus Christ (Messiah). Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
It was at least 25 years ago that we actually baked Ezekiel bread live on the 100 Huntley Street telecast. Rev. Val Dodd, who had at one time been the executive chef for the Holiday Inns in Toronto, had joined our staff team, and we took a page from Ezekiel’s book. Television is, of course, a visual medium of communications. We’ve never been as radical as Ezekiel (lying on one side and then the other for many days) in such graphic visuals to support his message. I think such a visual would have increased the number of people watching. In fact the entire country would have been aware of the show. I’m not recommending this to the current leaders in Crossroads Christian Communications Inc., but I do recommend powerful visual aids wherever possible. The more people watching means that the seed of God’s Word will fall into more good soil and will produce good fruit in more precious lives. One rather conservative pastor who pastored a church nearby said in reference to the Crossroads telecast and my somewhat radical approach to communications, “We should not try to be entertaining, we should just preach the Word!” True, but if we don’t get the attention of those who would not otherwise watch, how will they hear the “Word!” I would venture to say that Ezekiel was most entertaining. His ratings were really high, probably 100% of the people along the river Chebar watched him and got the message!
Yours for communicating in such a way that many more people “Get the Message!”
David
P.S. I’m writing today’s blog in Nashville, Tennessee. I’m here for the National Religious Broadcasters Convention. Under the leadership of Crossroads’ Global Chief Executive Officer, Dr. John Hull, our ministry is taking bold new steps to reach the world with the message of God’s Word. Our activities here are part of this initiative. Here’s a picture of a presentation made to me in recognition of Crossroads’ work by the Minister of Tourism of Israel. Also below is a beautiful scene from my Air Canada flight.
The Minister of Tourism of Israel, Dr. Uzi Landau, presented me with the "Goodwill Ambassador Award" at he National Religious Broadcasters Convention in Nashville yesterday. Norma-Jean and I expect to lead another tour to Israel this coming November. Why not join us for two great weeks. Call 905-335-7100 and ask for Valerie for further information.
Above the clouds on my Air Canada flight from Toronto to Nashville. The Bible says, "The Heavens declare the glory of God!" It must be very difficult to be an atheist!
Congratulations on the “Goodwill Ambassador Award!” Today’s reading has added tasting Ezekiel Bread to my “Bucket List.” I agree with adding entertainment with a message as being an effective tool in mass media for the reasons you state. Thanks for sharing the spectacular picture with the light shimmering above the cloud tops. My guess is you were flying in an Embraer, by the appearance of the winglet on the wing? Enjoy your brief stay in Nashville and hopefully you have time to take in some of the sites! Have a great day, everyone!
…”if we don’t get the attention of those who would not otherwise watch, how will they hear the “WORD!”…
Ain’t that the truth!
Ezekiel (full of the Holy Spirit) knew how to reach his people…
Thank you David Mainse for bringing to us 100 Huntley Street. You know how to reach the people. Thank you for your faithfulness in continuing this blog…
Praise our Heavenly Father as he continues to do a good work in and through you!
Blessings to all – Amen.
CONGRATULATIONS on receiving the “GOODWILL AMBASSADOR AWARD” Huntley St. Has been truly blessed by God or it would not have lasted as long as it has. The Word is always the centre of the programme and I have always gleaned a personal gem just for me as I watch. Thanks to all who bring it to us each day.
Praise to Our God who has used you Pastor David et al to get THE WORD out to the world. Blessings to my blog buddies.
Good morning I would like to make Eziekiel bread does anyone have the recipe if so can you post it on this blog for us .? Congratulations David on your award and you look fantastic God Bless all of you and all my fellow bloggers have a God favored day 🙂 🙂 🙂
Hey Brenda! I always buy Ezekiel bread from Loblaw’s in the frozen health food section. But, if you want a recipe, here is one I found on-line. Let us know if it works out. Here it is:
Ingredients:
1/2 cup barley flour
1/4 cup finely ground broad bean (fava bean) flour
1/4 cup millet flour
1 cup durum wheat flour
1/2 cup finely ground lentil flour
1 tsp. salt
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tsp. “biblical leavening” as above
Instructions:
Mix dry ingredients. Add olive oil, leavening and water as needed to form dough. Knead and allow to rise for two hours in warm place. Knead again. Form into flat round loaves the size of pita bread and bake until golden brown, about 10 minutes.
Info and recipe from Food at the time of the Bible: from Adam’s Apple to the Last Supper (www.palphot.com) by Miriam Feinberg Vamosh.
Thank you so much 🙂
Congratulations David on the “Goodwill Ambassador’s Award.” You’re looking great!”
Congratulations David .M for the award ,an award that is well deserved, God bless you and thank you for this Enspiring blog….R…
The Jews must have been intolerably bad to raise such fury and anger from God. The Devil must have been their guiding light. What a lesson!
Thank you David Mainse for your long, long, television broadcasting. My mother used to watch your show when I was a youngster. She has gone to live with God some 43 years now, but I remember her watching your show when we lived in Ottawa area, a little town called Metcalfe. You are definitely doing something right for your show to last that long.
Congratulations on your well-deserved award.
The Prayer Exchange is overwhelming!
God bless us all.
Remember “Atheist’s Day” is April Fool!!!
Nancy xoxoxo
Congratulations indeed David… how can any pastor find anything to criticize about your work? Isn’t it the way it is for all those who work in the Kingdom. Sad but true.
Congratulations on being presented with the Goodwill Ambassador’s Award, David!!! You look fantastic!!! You are truly a blessed man!! Praise God!! The heavens declare the glory of God–Amen!!
Oh my pastor David you look so incredibly healthy it does my faith and my heart good!!!! God bless you and keep for all eternity!!!!!!