Hey Bible readers, I'm Tara Lee Cobble, and I'm your host for the Bible recap.

Today in Chapter 16, God tells Ezekiel an extended metaphor about his relationship with

Israel.

And while the overall point of the metaphor is clear, every commentary I read cautioned

against getting into the weeds with this metaphor, simply because every comparison breaks

down at some level.

So we'll just look at it to the lens of regular glasses, not a microscope, because that's

how most metaphors and parables are intended to be received.

So here's what we're looking at.

Israel is an abandoned orphan, unloved and left to die.

But then someone, the king of the universe, by the way, rescues this orphan and nurses

her back to health.

He uses 19 verbs to describe all he does for the orphan when he rescues her.

I passed by you, I saw you, I said to you, live.

I made you flourish, I spread the corner of my garment over you.

I covered your nakedness, I made my vow to you, I entered into a covenant with you.

I bathed you with water, I washed off your blood, I anointed you with oil, I clothed you

with embroidered cloth, I shot you with fine leather, I wrapped you in fine linen, I covered

you with silk, I adorned you with garments, I put bracelets on your wrists and a chain

on your neck, I put a ring on your nose and earrings in your ears and a beautiful crown

on your head.

I bestowed splendor on you.

...