Scripture
6 No, I am not sending you to people with strange and difficult speech. If I did, they would listen! (Ez 3:6)
10 Then he added, “Son of man, let all my words sink deep into your own heart first. Listen to them carefully for yourself. (Ez 3:10)
23 So I got up and went, and there I saw the glory of the Lord, just as I had seen in my first vision by the Kebar River. And I fell face down on the ground. (Ez 3:23)
Those who choose to listen will listen, but those who refuse will refuse, for they are rebels. (Ez 3:27b)
Observation
I don’t really like the book of Ezekiel because I don’t understand all the symbolism and prophecy. So many people have their own interpretations about what it means and what has already happened and what is to happen in the future. I think the prophecies of the Bible are fun to look at and discuss, but if one becomes too dogmatic about their meanings, one can loose sight of the purpose of the Word of God, that is, the need for a Savior.
So, as I started reading Ezekiel today, I asked for deeper meaning and understanding. “God, how does this pertain to me TODAY?” Wow, God is so faithful to teach an open heart! The book of Ezekiel is a book of prophecy, yes, but look beyond the meat of the message and you realize that it is about God giving one man a message and that one man being obedient to deliver it. It is about being obedient despite understanding, despite negative results.
I have been struggling with the idea of being a missionary. I really want to go out to the poor and impoverished and help them. I know that God has called me to be a missionary. I’ve known this since I was fourteen. The idea of living in a hut somewhere without electricity really appeals to me. But, my heart has been telling me something different the past few years. God called Ezekiel to his own people. He also told Ezekiel that his words would fall on deaf ears. He would not be listened to. His mission was doomed to fail. How much easier it would have been for Ezekiel to go to a foreign land where no one knew him and struggle through translations and see results!
Application
For the record, I believe evangellism is building relationship with people and allowing God to work through you NOT standing on the street corner telling people to repent or die (unless that is what God TOLD you to do). So, when I talk about witnessing, I mean building relationship.
Imagine two cultures: one is a poor displaced group of people with no electricity, no running water, people who are afraid of their government, people who are told what to believe, people whose needs are simple to assess and see. The other lives in a society of freedom. They all have cars, televisions, fast food, jobs, no fear of speaking their mind. They live in abundance and for the most part, don’t NEED anything. Which one of these groups would be easier to witness to? Which ones would be more likely to really hear what you have to say and recieve what you have to give?
I say that the second group is more impoverished than the first group. I say that when you don’t lack any basic NEED, you have a harder time accepting a gospel that says that we are all in NEED of a savior. Our worldly prosperity and physical strength blinds us to the spiritual helplessness we are in. When God appeared before Ezekiel he “fell face down on the ground” because he understood how helpless he was before God. God told him to listen to His words himself first, and then share with others. Ezekiel, as the messenger, needed to admit his helplessness and heed the message just as much as those he was sent to.
Finally, when Ezekiel was ready to tell his own people what God had told him, God said not many would listen. Ezekiel knew his mission was doomed to fail even before he set out. Imagine the dispair of doing a job every day and never seeing any results! BUT, God did say, “Those who will listen will listen, and those who will refuse will refuse.” Obviously some DID listen because there has always been a remnant who remain obedient to God. Ezekiel spoke to an entire nation and his results were puny, in our eyes, but they were exactly the results God was expecting.
Prayer
Lord God, as difficult as it is to “witness” to my own people; to people who have an abundance and don’t see a need for You, I know that you have called me to this task. Teach me to know my own helplessness and to fall on my face before You. Teach me to first listen to Your words and change my heart before I go out and attempt to share them with others. Give me compassion and break my heart for the people You want to see in Your kingdom. Let me be Your representative in my world where I live. Help me to look past the apparent futility of my actions to the long-term results of obedience to You. Thank-you for loving us so much that you are willing to spend as much time as it takes to see everyone have the opportunity to hear about You and choose You.
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