Why Bother?
Read Ezekiel 1:1–3:27
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6. “Son of man, . . .
7. You must give them my messages whether they listen or not. But they won’t listen, for they are completely rebellious!
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.
3:1. 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.
4. Then he said, “Son of man, go to the people of Israel and give them my messages.” Ezekiel 2:6–3:4
Suppose you have a friend, relative, or neighbor who has made a lot of foolish mistakes in the past. He or she has paid a heavy price for these mistakes, but for some reason the lesson just hasn’t sunk in yet. Now this person is on the verge of making another big mistake. Should you warn him or her?
Ezekiel is in this kind of position. Despite repeated warnings of punishment from several prophets, the Jews refused to listen and kept on sinning. As a result, God let the Babylonians destroy Israel and take the Jews into captivity. Apparently the Israelites didn’t learn their lesson, however, and they continued to sin in Babylon. So God appointed Ezekiel to bring his message to the Jews there. God also told Ezekiel if he didn’t give the Jews his message, he, too, would pay for their sins.
As you read this section of Ezekiel, note the prophet’s faithfulness in carrying out his responsibilities. Also look for the many symbols of God in Ezekiel’s call to prophesy. Let these symbols lead you in worship.
Ezekiel was bitter and angry at God’s people (Ezekiel 3:14-15), and understandably so. Ezekiel had no guarantee that they would listen to him either (3:11). Still, Ezekiel delivered the messages God gave him and sacrificed his own comforts to communicate God’s warnings.
You may feel like Ezekiel when Christian brothers or sisters scorn God’s Word. But don’t be discouraged. If Christian friends have strayed from God, speak up, even if they aren’t listening, and even if it seems unlikely that they will take your advice.
