Ezekiel 2:1-10 NLT
“Stand up, son of man,” said the voice. “I want to speak with you.” The Spirit came into me as he spoke, and he set me on my feet. I listened carefully to his words. “Son of man,” he said, “I am sending you to the nation of Israel, a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me. They and their ancestors have been rebelling against me to this very day. They are a stubborn and hard-hearted people. But I am sending you to say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says!’ And whether they listen or refuse to listen—for remember, they are rebels—at least they will know they have had a prophet among them. “Son of man, do not fear them or their words. Don’t be afraid even though their threats surround you like nettles and briers and stinging scorpions. Do not be dismayed by their dark scowls, even though they are rebels. You must give them my messages whether they listen or not. But they won’t listen, for they are completely rebellious! Son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not join them in their rebellion. Open your mouth, and eat what I give you.” Then I looked and saw a hand reaching out to me. It held a scroll, which he unrolled. And I saw that both sides were covered with funeral songs, words of sorrow, and pronouncements of doom.
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The work of a prophet is fraught with hardships.
The messenger of God nearly always confronts unwelcoming audiences.
Israel is not alone in its rebellion although it is particularly hard hearted and it should know better since God had revealed the right way to them.
Every one you meet today will be or has been a rebell against God.
Some people have only had their consciences to guide them. These people were born with a moral compass. This compass can be ignored or even altered but both internally through their conscience or externally through the created order everyone understands there is a God!
But no one welcomes God or his rule over them.
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| Bethany walking a hard path on Kinder Scout, Edale England. |
So the prophet is up against the hard hearts of humanity on one side and the eternal God and his royal rule on the other.
Even today a Christian's role in the world is not too unlike that of Ezekiel.
God plans to reveal more of his character and plan to the world but the world wants to ignore the message and harm the messenger.
So the prophet of God faces these two formidable forces The Word of God compels him to go out and speak but the hard hearts of man rebel against that word and threaten and mock the messenger. Yet there is still another threat!
The prophet's own heart is vulnerable. We too are rebels at heart and we are prone to join the rebels. Although we know the truth of God's clear and righteous message we tend towards joining the rebels.
The prophet of God is telling people who do not want to hear a message that they find offensive, all the while concerned he'll become a traitor to God himself.
But you dear christian like Ezekiel the prophet have some powerful and compelling aids in the prophetic office.
First, you have been called by God himself. You have not dreamed this up, it is not about you and it is not your plan. You have been given the task by the ruler of the universe.
Second, you've been filled by the Spirit of the living God. God is in you, and he protects and empowers you. God has not sent you alone. God is with you.
Thirdly, God has told you what you are up against. God has made it clear that you are to be opposed and that the people you will speak to are rebellious and they will try the get you to come to their way of thinking. You are warned.
Fourthly, God says, "Don't be afraid!"
Remember when you tell people God's news, whether it is welcomed as a life giving warning or more likely rejected God is with you, instructing you, indwelling you, and sending you.
You and Ezekiel both are seeing a bit of the glory of the everlasting God.
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