Thought from today’s Bible reading from Ezekiel 1-4.
During the Babylonian captivity, Ezekiel was among the captives when God called him to prophesy. But He warned Ezekiel that this would not be an easy task.
“Then He said to me, ‘Son of man, I am sending you to the sons of Israel, to a rebellious people who have rebelled against Me; they and their fathers have transgressed against Me to this very day. I am sending you to them who are stubborn and obstinate children, and you shall say to them, “Thus says the Lord God.” As for them, whether they listen or not—for they are a rebellious house—they will know that a prophet has been among them’” (Ezekiel 2:3-5).
The reason why the people were suffering at this time was because they had been stubborn and rebellious against God. Being taken captive to Babylon did not change their attitude. Yet God sent Ezekiel to them anyway.
God uses this phrase – “whether they listen or not” – three times in giving His commission to Ezekiel (Ezekiel 2:5, 7; 3:11). He was preparing Ezekiel for the rejection he would face so that he would not become too discouraged and quit prophesying.
We will encounter people today like the ones to whom Ezekiel prophesied. Paul warned Timothy that people will “turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths” (2 Timothy 4:4). Yet Paul told Timothy how to respond to this: “But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (2 Timothy 4:5). Essentially he told Timothy the same thing that God told Ezekiel – keep teaching “whether they listen or not.”
We cannot force people to listen. Some will; some will not. We can only do what we are capable of doing – planting the seed, hoping to find someone with an “honest and good heart” (Luke 8:15). So let us not become discouraged – even though at times it might be easy to be when it seems as though people are not listening. Let us continue to do the work of preaching and teaching the gospel, whether they listen or not.
Tomorrow’s reading: Ezekiel 5-8
[I’m using the Chronological reading plan on the Bible Gateway website if you’d like to follow along, too.]
Daily Notes & Observations contains all 365 articles from this series and is available in paperback from Gospel Armory.
