Ezekiel 11 - 13

Ezekiel is given instructions to prophecy in direct conflict with the message given by the ruling nobles.  Theirs was a message of hopelessness; Ezekiel's was a message of hope despite hard times.  While he spoke, one of the rulers died, causing Ezekiel to fear for the lives of those remaining in the city.  God, however, reiterated His promise of protection for those whom He had chosen to bless - no matter where they had been scattered.

Ezekiel was then given the task of illustrating the rebellious nature of the people.  He accomplished this by acting out the motions of one going into captivity:  gathering his belongings by day and digging through the wall by night.  When asked why he was performing such tasks, he was to respond that it was a sign of what was to come - and that the nation would know that God is God when the events occurred exactly as predicted.  The time of its occurrence was not far off.  In fact, God would accomplish it so quickly that the proverbial saying "judgment later" would fall out of use.

God then turns His attention to those who claimed to represent Him, but did not.  These false prophets would find themselves on the receiving end of God's wrath and punishment.  The exact opposite of what they declared would come to pass, revealing their failure to speak for Deity.  All this would be done to underscore the fact that God alone is God.