By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher
Text: Ezekiel
3:1-15
Ezekiel
3:4
And
he said to me, “Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with my
words to them.
(ESV)
One of the pastors at my
Church recently shared one of the greatest frustrations of one in ministry,
people not listening to the Godly counsel they give to individuals. The
prophets Jeremiah, Isaiah, and Ezekiel all obeyed their calling from God and
spoke God’s Word to the people of Judah and Israel. They spoke the truth of
God’s Word even though ignored by the people of Judah and Israel who both went
into exile for their disobedience. Jeremiah, Isaiah, and Ezekiel all received
visions of the glory of God to let them know their calling was to obediently
speak the Word of God, even if not listened to (Ezekiel
1:4-3:15; Isaiah 6; Jeremiah 1:4-19). While those receiving a calling from
God to ministry may not receive a vision like these prophets, they can and
should seek Godly counsel for confirmation of his or her calling and accountability.
Ezekiel receives an
unusual command from the one holding the scroll, instructed to eat the scroll so
Ezekiel opens his mouth and receives the scroll to eat (Ezekiel
3:1-2). The one holding the scroll instructs Ezekiel to feed his belly with
the scroll and fill his stomach. The scroll tastes as sweet as honey in his
mouth (Ezekiel
3:3). This symbolizes the sweetness of the Words from God contained on the
scroll.
Ezekiel is then
instructed to go to the house of Israel and speak the words of the Lord to them
(Ezekiel
3:4). God is not sending Ezekiel to people of foreign speech so they should
understand what he tells them (Ezekiel
3:5-6). However, Israel will not listen to Ezekiel for they have hard heads
and stubborn hearts (Ezekiel
3:7). God has also given Ezekiel a hard face and head and instructed him not
to fear the people of Israel or have dismay at their looks for the house of
Israel is a rebellious house (Ezekiel
3:8-9). Ezekiel receives an instruction to receive all the Words from the
Lord spoken to him and to go to the exiles saying to them “Thus says the Lord
God,” whether they hear or not (Ezekiel
3:10-11).
Upon receiving these
instructions, Ezekiel is lifted up in the Spirit and hears a voice of a great
earthquake speaking behind him saying, “Blessed be the glory of the Lord from
its place.” (Ezekiel
3:12). The sound Ezekiel heard was the wings of the creatures touching each
other and the sound of the wheels beside them, sounding like a great earthquake
(Ezekiel
3:13). The Spirit lifted Ezekiel up and took him away in bitterness and the
heat of his spirit with the hand of the Lord strong upon him (Ezekiel
3:14). Ezekiel came to the exiles at Tel-abib at the Chebar canal where
they were dwelling, overwhelmed among them for seven days (Ezekiel
3:15).
Ezekiel is going to the
house of Israel who are in exile due to their rebellion against the Lord. God
is providing him with instructions and encouragement (Ezekiel
3:7-9). The Lord also instructs Ezekiel to only speak what the Lord gives
him to say, illustrated by him eating the scroll given to him during his vision
of glory (Ezekiel
3:1-3, 10-11). The vision of the glory of heaven and the magnitude of his
calling overwhelmed Ezekiel to the point he could not speak to the exiles the
Lord had sent him to for seven days (Ezekiel
3:15).
One having a calling to
ministry from the Lord is not just going into an occupation or profession but
has a calling from the Lord, with the responsibility to take God’s Word to
heart and speak as directed by the Lord. Unfortunately, the age of media has
created a situation where ministers can become celebrities earning fame and
fortune. These ministers can profit from ministry by taking advantage of people
financially and spiritually using their fame. People taken advantage of by
these charlatans can turn their backs on God and possibly lost for eternity due
to the hurt of one in ministry taking advantage of them. I encourage anyone
taken advantage of by one in ministry using their calling for financial gain
and fame not to turn their backs on God but to seek out a Church with a pastor
ministering God’s Word as directed by the Lord, pointing people to Christ and
not themselves. I also urge those with a calling to ministry to diligently
study the Word of God and point their congregations to Christ, not for their
own gain but for the glory of God.
If you are reading this
and have not prayed to ask God to forgive your sins and make Jesus Lord of your
life, I encourage you to do so now by praying with me,
Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans
3:23)
and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans
6:23). I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse
me as you promise in your Word (1
John 1:9). I believe
you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now
declare you Lord of my life.
May God challenge,
convict, and bless everyone reading this post.
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