Moreover He said to me: “Son of man, receive into your heart all My words that I speak to you, and hear with your ears. And go, get to the captives, to the children of your people, and speak to them and tell them, ‘Thus says the Lord God,’ whether they hear, or whether they refuse.” Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me a great thunderous voice: “Blessed is the glory of the Lord from His place!”
Ezekiel 3:10-12
Ezekiel was one of the captives during the exile into Babylon. He was Jeremiah’s counterpart. Jeremiah was in Jerusalem prophesying to those who were resisting the Chaldeans while Ezekiel was with the captives far from home relocated along the river so they could support the war effort against their own country. The Babylonians placed them along the river so that the crops they grew and the goods they manufactured could be easily transported.
Chapter one tells us plainly that Ezekiel was with the captive when he received his prophetic calling. It was a significant calling and left him bewildered for seven days. Here subjected to God’s judgment against his people God tells him to receive all the words that God will speak to him into his heart. God isn’t asking for obedience only. He wants Ezekiel to let the word into his heart. He wants Ezekiel to digest the words of the prophecies not just repeat them to the others. There are a few things that I really noticed about his circumstances.
First, God was still ministering to His people even though they were being disciplined. He sent them a prophet to serve them by explaining the huge events that were occurring in their lives. God did not silently punish them. I am thankful that God is not a distant Father but a present help in times of trouble. (Psalm 46:1) He is still available to help us today. (Hebrews 4:16) I also noticed that even though he was called to be the watchman to cry out the warnings and explanations of God’s judgment to his people he was not separate form them. He was not excluded from God’s judgments. He lived through the captivity with them. As a pastor I know this will be true for me to. I will share in struggles of life that those I serve. God has sent me to lay down my life so I will right in the midst of life’s struggles.
It seems to me that Christians in general believe they will be exempted from difficult times because they know Jesus. Christian leaders are often shocked to find themselves in the same straights as those they lead. I believe it is His plan for us to go through it with the people, leading by example how to face the challenges that will come before us. We should be willing to go through it before they do and openly before them so they can have a model to follow. Leaders should face tough times first and they should do it in front of the others. Then the others will know that God has not forsaken them in the struggle. Isn’t that what leading is?
Going First,
Pastor Jason
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