[4] And he said to me, “Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with my words to them. [5] For you are not sent to a people of foreign speech and a hard language, but to the house of Israel—[6] not to many peoples of foreign speech and a hard language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely, if I sent you to such, they would listen to you. [7] But the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, for they are not willing to listen to me: because all the house of Israel have a hard forehead and a stubborn heart. [8] Behold, I have made your face as hard as their faces, and your forehead as hard as their foreheads. [9] Like emery harder than flint have I made your forehead. Fear them not, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house.” [10] Moreover, he said to me, “Son of man, all my words that I shall speak to you receive in your heart, and hear with your ears. [11] And go to the exiles, to your people, and speak to them and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD,’ whether they hear or refuse to hear.”
[12] Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me the voice of a great earthquake: “Blessed be the glory of the LORD from its place!” [13] It was the sound of the wings of the living creatures as they touched one another, and the sound of the wheels beside them, and the sound of a great earthquake. [14] The Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness in the heat of my spirit, the hand of the LORD being strong upon me. [15] And I came to the exiles at Tel-abib, who were dwelling by the Chebar canal, and I sat where they were dwelling. And I sat there overwhelmed among them seven days.
(Ezekiel 3:1-15 ESV)
Again the Lord said "Son of man" telling Ezekiel to "go to the house of Israel and speak with my words to them. For you are not sent to a people of foreign speech and a hard language, but to the house of Israel—not to many peoples of foreign speech and a hard language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely, if I sent you to such, they would listen to you. But the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, for they are not willing to listen to me: because all the house of Israel have a hard forehead and a stubborn heart. Behold, I have made your face as hard as their faces, and your forehead as hard as their foreheads. Like emery harder than flint have I made your forehead. Fear them not, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house.”
Oh my, I would find those words so hard to hear eh? But at some level I would also find it comforting, to be equipped to deal with a hard people. Because you see it's what God did. He knew that the people of Israel would not want to listen to Ezekiel, that they were hard-headed, stubborn hearted people, so he made Ezekiel just like them. And then minded Ezekiel with these words: "Fear them not, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house.”
Again reminding Ezekiel to FEAR THEM NOT!
I find it interesting that God tells Ezekiel that he's not sending them to a nation of foreigners, but this the nation of Israel. He knows their language and speech. He recognizes that if he sent Ezekiel to a foreign nation, those people would most likely listen to him. But he's sending him to a nation that will understand him, to a people who won't want to listen.
Moreover, he said to me, “Son of man, all my words that I shall speak to you receive in your heart, and hear with your ears. And go to the exiles, to your people, and speak to them and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD,’ whether they hear or refuse to hear.”
And so the Lord's instruction to Ezekiel is complete. He's been given his commission, along with the warning it will be a difficult task, and he's been given the words to speak (which were sweet to the tongue). He is to speak to them regardless if they listen to him or not.
Once this instruction period was over, Ezekiel found himself lifted up by the Spirit (man...I'd be freaking out I think). As he was lifted up a voice, like that of an earthquake said "Blessed be the glory of the Lord from it's place." This voice came from the creatures, the wheels and the sound of an earthquake.
The Spirit lifted him and took him away to exiles at Tel-abib, dwelling by the Chebar canal. He went as he says "in bitterness in the heat of my spirit, the hand of the LORD being strong upon me". Ezekiel was not happy to have had this vision, to have this commission from the Lord.
He sat among the exiles for seven days, overwhelmed by all he had experienced.
I can understand this. It was such a fantastic experience, such a huge vision that he saw and experienced. It would take a while to take it all in... and so he took seven days.
He didn't go in a happy spirit though, he was bitter. "bitter in the heat of my spirit" is what he says. For some reason I find that surprising... I would have expected surprised or exhausted or stunned. Bitterness is a angry emotion. Why was Ezekiel angry? I wonder if that question will be answered for me. I wonder if that was part of the reason he sat for seven days among the people.
It will be interesting to find out.
Look what I found.. A reading of Ezekiel Three (in the NIV couldn't find in the ESV)
It would be hard, And I can't say how I would react as I'm not in that situation. I know in my own life I am facing a big change, and currently my reaction is one of fear... so perhaps, just perhaps God is also saying this me.. FEAR NOT. Hmm... something to think about eh?
So what about you reader, what does this section of Ezekiel 3 bring out from your heart?