Finding STRENGTH in ‘GOD ALONE’ to OBEY His WILL!
August 26 Bible Reading: Ezekiel Chapters 1-3
Finding STRENGTH in ‘GOD ALONE’ to OBEY His WILL!
"And you, son of man, do not be afraid
of them nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and
you dwell among scorpions; do not be afraid of their words or dismayed by their
looks, though they are a rebellious house. You shall speak My words to them,
whether they hear or whether they refuse, for they are rebellious. But you, son
of man, hear what I say to you. Do not be rebellious like that rebellious
house; open your mouth and eat what I give you." (Ezek. 2:6-8)
Ezekiel
(meaning "strengthened by God") was one of the Jews taken to
Babylonia with the second group of captives, eleven years before Jerusalem was
destroyed. He ministered to his fellow-exiles immediately before and during the
first twenty-some years of the captivity. They falsely expected to return to
Jerusalem, so Ezekiel taught them that they must first return to the Lord!
God told
Ezekiel his task was to declare God’s word to a “rebellious nation.” Whether they responded was their own
responsibility. But when the events announced by Ezekiel finally took place,
the people would “know that a prophet”
had been in their midst. “Be not afraid”
is spoken three times to Ezekiel to
encourage him to fulfill God’s mission (v. 6). Ezekiel needed this
encouragement because the task ahead was difficult and dangerous. Ezekiel was
to communicate God’s word to a rebellious nation without fear.
As a prophet
from the Lord, it was God’s message that Ezekiel was to proclaim. The people
will respond negatively and perhaps even threaten him with harm, but he shall
speak faithfully and not be discouraged. This is the context of what God had
commanded Ezekiel:
- Ezekiel’s message was only to consist of what God had commanded;
- Ezekiel was to declare all what God had commanded
- Ezekiel was not to be dismayed by the negative responses of the people
- Ezekiel's confidence was based upon God’s promise to protect him.
- Ezekiel was promised opposition but he was also promised victory by the hand of God.
The images
of briers, thorns and scorpions vividly portray the nature of the rebellious
opponents of Ezekiel’s warnings. These metaphors refer to those who are going
to persecute Ezekiel for bringing an unpopular message from God (1 Kin. 18:4;
Jer. 20:7–18; Matt. 23:29–31, 34, 37). God told Ezekiel not to allow fear to
hinder his message, whether or not the message was wanted (v. 7).
In the
similar manner, we also have been mandated to speak an unpopular message (the
gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ) to all the people in our world (Matt.
28:19-20). This message is unpopular, and we will be jeered, sidelined and even
threatened for declaring the truth of God’s Word. We will be labeled as radical
and opposed from all angles. At that time, let us remember that we can find
strength in God and His Word alone to do His will every day.
