Corona Devo 1846

What do we possibly have in common with a guy who eats paper, is obstinate and hard-hearted, and has a hard forehead?  

Alot, I hope.  

Ezekiel was a regular guy who was living his everyday life for the Lord (almost 600 years before Jesus walked the Earth as a man), and then God called Ezekiel to get bold about sharing God's Truth with people.  And not just any people...his (Ezekiel's) people: the Israelites, who--not so coincidentally: were also God's people.

But, guess what?  The people didn't want to hear it.  They wanted to keep doing and living in their ways (sin), and not in God's ways.  And God told Ezekiel the people would resist him.  But God also told Ezekiel to tell them about God's Word anyway.  Teach them anyway.  Preach to them anyway.  Why?  Because (God said): at least they will know they have had a prophet among them (Ezekiel 2:5).

I don't know...does any of this ring true in the hearts of God's people today?  ...Of us today?  

Does anyone feel like God has told them to share His Word (the Bible) with others?  

We all should:

Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. (20) Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.  ~Matthew 28:19-20

But...what if they don't want to hear it?  Do any of us ever feel like Ezekiel (may have) felt?

Read the words of God today.  As God's sons and daughters, let's let all His words sink deep into our own hearts.  Let's listen to them carefully (for ourselves first)...and then we can go to our people and share God's Word with them.

This is what God said to Ezekiel...and let's see if it is what God is saying to us today about our neighborhoods, cities and nations.

“Stand up, son of man,” said the voice. “I want to speak with you.” 

(2) The Spirit came into me as he spoke, and he set me on my feet. I listened carefully to his words. (3) “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.

(4) They are a stubborn and hard-hearted people. But I am sending you to say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says!’ 

(5) 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.  

(6) “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. 

(7) You must give them my messages whether they listen or not. But they won’t listen, for they are completely rebellious!  ~Ezekiel 2:1-7

~~~

So, there it is: God speaks to Ezekiel and tells him that He wants him to tell the people of Israel about Him.

God acknowledges that the Israelites won't listen to Ezekiel.  He also says that they will have harsh and hurtful words for Ezekiel...but that he should go and tell them anyway.

It's a difficult assignment to swallow, (because of the hardened hearts and responses of others) and God knows it.  But God also knows how sweet His Word and plans are to those who turn their hearts to Him, and for those who will choose to ingest His Word, rather than spit it out.  Those of us like Ezekiel:

(8) 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.”  

(9) Then I looked and saw a hand reaching out to me. It held a scroll, (10) which he unrolled. And I saw that both sides were covered with funeral songs, words of sorrow, and pronouncements of doom. 

The voice said to me, “Son of man, eat what I am giving you—eat this scroll! Then go and give its message to the people of Israel.” (2) So I opened my mouth, and he fed me the scroll. (3) “Fill your stomach with this,” he said. And when I ate it, it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth.  ~Ezekiel 2:8-10, & 3:1-3

It's a wild exchange between God and Ezekiel, but (to me) it makes sense.  God has a message for the world: to some (that do not receive God), it will sound like death and sorrow, but to God's children, His Word is as sweet as honey when we "eat of it".  

To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life.   ~2 Corinthians 2:16

~~~

And then, God tells Ezekiel that He's sending him to (the familiar) people of Israel. 

The Israelites are hard-hearted and stubborn toward God, however, God reminds Ezekiel (and us!) that we are just as obstinate and hard-hearted...but for the Lord!

Then he said, “Son of man, go to the people of Israel and give them my messages. (5) I am not sending you to a foreign people whose language you cannot understand. (6) No, I am not sending you to people with strange and difficult speech. If I did, they would listen!

(7) But the people of Israel won’t listen to you any more than they listen to me! For the whole lot of them are hard-hearted and stubborn. 

(8) But look, I have made you as obstinate and hard-hearted as they are. (9) I have made your forehead as hard as the hardest rock! So don’t be afraid of them or fear their angry looks, even though they are rebels.”  ~Ezekiel 3:4-9

Isn't it a great (and encouraging) message to us today?  Yes...the world will ignore, obstruct, and contradict God's Word, but the Lord has strengthened us to have just as much resolve, but all in the name of God, and to glorify Him.

God's last piece of advice to Ezekiel (and us) is not just to speak His Word, but (first and foremost), God tells us to let all my words sink deep into your own heart first.  

Let's do that.

Then he added, “Son of man, let all my words sink deep into your own heart first. Listen to them carefully for yourself. (11) Then go to your people in exile and say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says!’ Do this whether they listen to you or not.”  ~Ezekiel 3:10-11

~~~

What do we possibly have in common with Ezekiel, a guy who eats paper, is obstinate and hard-hearted, and has a hard forehead?  

Alot, I hope.  

Blessings,  

sarah  

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com