3:4-9
God then makes the difficulty of the mission clear. Ezekiel is being sent to the people of Israel. They spoke the same language. More importantly, they had all the religious heritage, they knew of the Law and exodus and all of Israel’s history. They should have been able to hear and understand the words of Ezekiel. However, Ezekiel’s task would have been easier if God had sent him to a people of obscure speech! They would have listened. Jesus said similar things during His time on earth. But Israel would not listen! Why? Because they were hard and unyielding, a rebellious people. The root problem was that they had rebelled against God.
We need to realise that God has a habit of sending His servants to people who do not want to listen. Why? First, rebellion is the reason people will not listen, they do not naturally want to respond to the word of God. Secondly, the grace of God can overcome all hardness of heart. So God promises to make Ezekiel as tough as the people of Israel were. The name Ezekiel means “God strengthens”. We need God to strengthen us.
So Ezekiel needs to face up to the reality of the situation, and not to be afraid. We need the same approach Not to look at things through rose tinted spectacles, but with harsh reality, and not to be afraid, because God is with us.
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