Ezekiel 2:1-7 - The call to persist responsibly in service

Ezekiel chapter 1 describes the spectacular heavenly visions Ezekiel saw at the age of 30. As a priest, at that age, he should have begun serving in the temple in Jerusalem. But he was in exile and was living among fellow exiles in the region of Chebar River in Babylon. With no temple of Yahweh in captivity, God took steps to reassign him to the prophetic ministry. The visions of the four living creatures identified as cherubim, the chariot, the throne, the manifestation, and the glory of God were all parts of his call and initiation into the prophetic ministry. Ezekiel 1:28 said that when he saw the glory of God, he fell facedown and then heard a voice coming from the throne of God.

Here in Ezekiel 2, he then narrates what he heard. Addressing him as the Son of man, God ordered him to stand up on his feet as He spoke to him. As he heard the command, God’s Spirit came upon him and set him up on his feet. The Hebrew term “Son of man,” which is used regularly in this book to address Ezekiel, simply means “mortal man”. God wanted to use him, a mortal man, to speak His message to His rebellious people in exile.  Verse 3 reveals to us how God assessed the people of Israel as well as those of the nations. They were alike in that they were people who “…have rebelled against me (God). They and their fathers have transgressed against me (God) to this very day.” Like them their descendants continued to rebel against God. Hence, He described them as “impudent and stubborn.”

Ezekiel was to proclaim God's message to the people he was sent to speak, regardless of whether they were willing to hear it or not. Ezekiel's presence among them was to signal to them that God had sent him as a prophet among them.  However, Ezekiel was warned of the wayward people and circumstances he would be facing. God warned him to anticipate cruel treatment at their hands for these were rebellious people.  Despite the anticipated harsh and cruel treatment, Ezekiel was to endure, persevere, and not give up. God expressly urged him not to be “…afraid of them, nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you, and you sit on scorpions. Be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house.” Ezekiel was to persist regardless of whether they would listen to him or not.

Serving God, whether full-time or not, is a privilege. Ministry must be carried out responsibly despite the difficulties and toughness one will encounter while serving Him. We are expected to persist with God even in the face of resistance. Faithfulness, consistency, and persistence are all critical elements in serving Him. In whatever capacity we are serving God, may the following words of Annie Johnson Flint be our constant encouragement.

God has not promised skies always blue,
Flower-strewn pathways all our lives through;
God has not promised sun without rain,
Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.

God has not promised we shall not know
Toil and temptation, trouble and woe;
He has not told us we shall not bear
Many a burden, many a care.

God has not promised smooth roads and wide,
Swift, easy travel, needing no guide;
Never a mountain rocky and steep,
Never a river turbid and deep.
 
But God has promised strength for the day,
Rest for the labor, light for the way,
Grace for the trials, help from above,
Unfailing kindness, undying love.