This morning’s focus in on chapters 2, 3 & 4
God’s call to Ezekiel was quite astounding. Imagine this for a job description. To go deliver a message to a people who will not want to listen. Still you must keep on delivering the message. The chief qualification for the job is for ‘…your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint…’ (3:9). Yet this is what God asked Ezekiel to do.
Ezekiel was sent to his own people who were in exile in Babylon. The very reason they were in exile was because of their history of disobedience and failure to listen to God’s prophets over generations. (2:3) If they didn’t listen to the likes of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Hosea, or any of the other prophets why on earth would they listen to Ezekiel.
The important part of Ezekiel’s call was the fact it was not his responsibility as to how the people responded to his message. Ezekiel was simply to tell the people what God commanded him to say. If he failed to speak to a wicked person who later died, then Ezekiel would be responsible for that man. If, however he did give God’s warning and the man died having not repented – Ezekiel would not be held responsible.
The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. Say to them, “This is what the Sovereign Lord says.”
Ezekiel 2:4
Each of us are called to the same responsibility as Ezekiel. We are called to our own people, wherever we may be. We are called to give the same message – the word of God. Ezekiel was told to eat the scroll God gave him (3:1) and then to speak to the people.
The more we read the word of God, the more we will know what it is God has us to say. The more we understand the holiness of God through the word of God the more we will be able to talk opening about humanities sinfulness. The more we read the word of God and understand how seriously he takes sin the more urgent we will be in speaking the word of God to those around us.
Have we grasped the importance and urgency of God’s call on our life? Have we understood our responsibility for the people around us? Who do we need to go to today to make known the word of God, the way of Salvation through Jesus Christ?
Prayer Father God thank you for the saving work of Jesus Christ on the cross. Thank you for wonderful news that you have entrusted to me through your word. Make me strong enough and instil in me the urgency of the message you have given to me. Make me faithful to my calling. Amen
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