Jeremiah prophesied from Jerusalem....for forty years....while a younger Ezekiel....who was forcibly taken to Babylon in the first group of exiles....prophesied from far away. Jeremiah was more simple in that God spoke to him.....and he obediently warned the people....whereas Ezekiel had more visions. Jeremiah was more....'repent or our nation will be destroyed and taken away"....whereas Ezekiel was more...."this is why all of this happened....and this is what will continue to happen.'
                 Monday morning I did my needed weekly yard work....one task was cutting back a small tree so that people walking their dog could stay on the sidewalk. I looked at the top of the tree....maybe eighteen feet high....that badly needed trimmed.....but put that off for another day. Later that day I set my mind to read in Ezekiel....starting at chapter 1....and in chapter 17....there are a couple of passages about the top of a tree being lopped off and carried away to be replanted.
                 Last evening I walked out into my yard only to see the top of that tree that I did not have the energy to trim....had been violently lopped off....with leaves scattered all over the yard....as I suspect that our local Peregrine Falcon had surprised another victim. (I have a photo of it which I will try....Lord willing....to add later)

                 Early in that 17th chapter of Ezekiel is a riddle that God had given to the prophet. It was about two eagles...that is interpreted to be political powers....that Israel had come to depend upon. The first is interpreted as being Babylon....and the second....Egypt. The vine....as interpreted as Israel....leaned or turned towards those eagles....one at a time....the first to its benefit....but with the second eagle....which the vine had also turned to....it was pulled up by its roots and left to wither.
                 Here is what came to my mind....Israel had since its inception depended upon the United States....and survived and prospered....but of late it turned to...."stretched its branches toward him"...that second great eagle.
                  These are just my thoughts....but here is what I would like you to take away....it is time....it is long past time....for Christians to delve into God's prophetic word. So please do this if you haven't already.