Siege, Cow Pies, and the Wrath of God

God often had Old Testament Prophets do difficult, and even bizarre, things. And nowhere do we see that more than with the Prophet Ezekiel. In this episode, we delve into a very odd passage where God tells Ezekiel to tell the exiles of Judah in Babylon about the forthcoming siege of Jerusalem and the dire consequences the people will face, by first, performing dramatic theater for the people, then by lying on the ground on either of his sides while tied up in ropes, and then by drinking a small amount of water, and baking an unusual cake of bread over human excrement!

Why would God have Ezekiel do these things and use such bizarre methods to give the people His message? What does this passage tell us about prophets? What does this passage have to do with us today? And finally, why is this passage in the Bible?!