[8] “But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Be not rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you.” [9] And when I looked, behold, a hand was stretched out to me, and behold, a scroll of a book was in it. [10] And he spread it before me. And it had writing on the front and on the back, and there were written on it words of lamentation and mourning and woe.
(Ezekiel 2 ESV)
Remember that Ezekiel had fallen down? He was so overwhelmed by the vision that he fell on his face :And when I saw it, I fell on my face
First thing the Lord says to him is this "Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak with you."
As the Lord spoke to him, the Spirit entered him and set him up on his feet. The Lord continued to speak
“Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to nations of rebels, who have rebelled against me. They and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day. The descendants also are impudent and stubborn: I send you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD.’ And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house) they will know that a prophet has been among them. And you, son of man, be not afraid of them, nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions. Be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house. And you shall speak my words to them, whether they hear or refuse to hear, for they are a rebellious house.
“But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Be not rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you.”
The Lord is clear.
He has chosen Ezekiel to be a prophet to a rebellious nation. Their fathers rebelled and their offspring are impudent and rude. These people might refuse to hear what Ezekiel has to say, OR they may chose to listen, but either way they will know that the Lord has placed a prophet among them. A prophet who will say to them "Thus says the Lord God."
Ezekiel is minded that he is NOT to be afraid of this people God has placed him as prophet among. Despite anything they do, whether he is placed in danger or not, whether they speak poorly of him, or are dismayed by what he says, he is NOT to be afraid, for they are a rebellious people.
Ezekiel is called to be different than the people,
- he is to hear the words of the Lord
- he is not to be rebellious
- He is to eat what the Lord offers him.
When Ezekiel looked, he saw a hand stretched out toward that had the scroll of a book in it. The Lord spread that book out to him, and on it Ezekiel saw writing on the front and back, words of lamentation and mourning and woe.
Ah, don't you just suspect that Ezekiel will have a hard road to travel? To see the words of lamentation, mourning and woe written down in a book that the Lord God himself is showing him. To know see those words directly after being given the charge of being a prophet?
Oh my.
That would have me concerned.
But the Lord told Ezekiel not to be afraid. Of looks, language, situations etc. Not to be afraid. This rebellious people that he will be the mouthpiece of God to, will not take kindly to his words, be prepared for that, but speak them without fear. Deal with whatever happens, because God tells you to do so.
The faith Ezekiel would need eh?
To stand and deal with it all?
Oh.. that I might have that kind of faith, the faith the stands firm regardless. A faith that says I WILL FEAR NOT because the Lord told me not to. I will stand firm because the Lord is at my side.
How about you?
What do these words say to you?