Ezekiel 3:4-9 – God will equip us for the task

Much like Isaiah, Ezekiel was commissioned after the vision that called him into the prophetic ministry.  In Ezekiel 3:4-9 God then reveals to him the first of the tasks of that commission. He was to go and preach the word of God to the house of Israel, a people who shared a common language as he. He was not being sent to people who spoke different and hard languages he could not understand. Why was God so precise concerning whom he was first to speak to? This was in consideration that among the people of Israel in exile there would also be people from other nations that Babylon had held captives.  God’s target for Ezekiel at this point was for the house of Israel.  

While he was being sent to people who shared a similar language as he did, he should not think that this would be an easy assignment. Though he spoke a similar language as them, they would not heed what he would say to them. They were not only hard in their heads but also hard in their hearts. For these were not only stubborn but also obstinate people. However, Ezekiel was not to take their rejection personally for they were not rejecting him but God. 

Hence, he was not to be intimidated by their resistance and caved in. For God would empower him with the wherewithal to deal with the hardened people. He would be equipped with a great fortitude that would toughen him to face the rebellious people. He would be given a resoluteness that was harder than flint and a fearless attitude that would not back down.  Ezekiel, God urged, was not to be intimidated by his audience.  

As God’s redemptive agents, we know that our task in evangelizing people closest to us is often the toughest.  But we are not to be discouraged but to persist. We must not take any rejection personally and lose our will to reach them.  Besides, we must not be intimidated just because they stoutly and fiercely take it out on us personally. Know that God will equip us to face the toughness of the task. His grace will be sufficient for us. Like a diamond, our God-empowered resolve will be harder than flint.  

Annie Johnson Flint has yet another poem that should encourage us in our life and service to God. Especially when life and assignments seem tough.

He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase;
To added afflictions, He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

Fear not that thy need shall exceed His provision,
Our God ever yearns His resources to share;
Lean hard on the arm everlasting, availing;
The Father both thee and thy load will upbear.

His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.