Ezekiel 17 · Grade 5

The Tender Twig

Name Date

Read and Think

Ezekiel 17 is a riddle and parable about Judah's last kings. A great eagle with great wings and feathers of various colors came to Lebanon and took the top of the cedar, carrying it to a city of merchants. God explained that the king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and took its king and its princes to Babylon. The eagle then planted a seed of the land as a low, spreading vine. By keeping his covenant with Babylon the kingdom might stand, humbled but alive.

But the vine bent its roots toward another great eagle, Egypt. Zedekiah sent ambassadors for horses and troops, breaking the oath he had sworn in God's name. God asked, Will he break the covenant, and still escape? Because the oath was sworn by Yahweh, breaking it was unfaithfulness to God himself. The rebellion would fail, and the king would be taken to Babylon.

The chapter closes with God taking the eagle's role. I will also take some of the lofty top of the cedar, and will plant it. He would plant a tender twig on the mountain of the height of Israel, and it would become a good cedar where birds of every kind would dwell. Christians have read this as pointing to the Messiah from David's line. In the New Testament, Matthew 13:32 says the mustard seed becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in its branches.

Show What You Know

Whom did the top of the cedar and the seed of the land represent?
Why was breaking the oath to Babylon a sin against God?
How does God take the eagle's role at the end?
What New Testament parable connects to the birds in the branches?

Crossword

Across

So it became a ____
He set it as a willow ____

Down

He ____ it in a city of merchants
And shot out its ____ toward him
And made a ____ with him

Think About It

Zedekiah looked to Egypt for rescue rather than keeping faith. Where are you tempted to look for security instead of God?
God brings down the high tree and exalts the low tree. How does this give hope to people who feel small?

Memory Verse

All the trees of the field will know that I, Yahweh, have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree flourish. “‘I, Yahweh, have spoken and have done it.’”

Ezekiel 17:24 (WEB)

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Prayer

Dear God, thank You for growing Your kingdom. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

How can you keep a promise even when it is hard?
How does Matthew 13:32 connect to Ezekiel 17?
What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?