May the mumbling commence!
At the beginning of Ezekiel, God makes Ezekiel an offer that most people would like to refuse. In fact, most people during Ezekiel’s day did refuse; and that was the problem. For all that Ezekiel could see, the mission that God sent him on had no chance of succeeding. And, then, God redefines success for Ezekiel and all of us. Success is being faithful to God’s call in our lives.
In Ezekiel chapters two and three, the recurring phrases are: speak to them whether or not they listen and do not be afraid of them. Would Israel listen to the words of the Lord spoken through Ezekiel? Read the words the Lord spoke to Ezekiel about this in chapter three:
"Son of man, go now to the house of Israel and speak my words to them. You are not being sent to a people of obscure speech and difficult language, but to the house of Israel – not to many peoples of obscure speech and difficult language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely if I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you. But the house of Israel is not willing to listen to you because they are not willing to listen to me, for the whole house of Israel is hardened and obstinate. But I will make you as unyielding and hardened as they are. I will make your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint. Do not be afraid of them or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious house." (Verses 4b-9)
Lovely! They would not listen to the Lord, so he sent a mere mortal. No wonder Ezekiel sat for seven days speechless and overwhelmed. After those seven days, God gave Ezekiel a new measure for his success. Read it below from Ezekiel 3:16-19 –
At the end of seven days the word of the Lord came to me: "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. When I say to a wicked man, 'You will surely die,' and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his life, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. But if you do warn the wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his evil ways, he will die for his sin; but you will have saved yourself.
God made Ezekiel a watchman. It was Ezekiel’s duty to speak the words of the Lord to all people – wicked or righteous – and watch the effect that the Lord would have on the person. If Ezekiel was faithful in speaking the words that the Lord put on his lips, Ezekiel would be saved. If he refused to speak, then the blood of both the wicked and the righteous would be on his head.
Ezekiel must speak and watch. But it is the Lord that will affect any change. Ezekiel was not held accountable for the change in other people. Ezekiel was held accountable for being faithful to God’s call in his life.
It is no different for us. God does not hold us accountable for successfully reaching people and bringing them to Jesus. God does hold us accountable for speaking the Good News to everyone we find in our path. Even when the prospects seem less that favorable, let us speak the Good News. Even when speaking the Good News would bring fear of hurt or pain or death, let us speak the Good News. Do not be afraid. Listen to God, and follow His path.
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
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