They will not hearken unto me

Bible Reading: Ezekiel 1-4

Ezekiel 3:7-8 But the house of Israel will not hearken unto thee; for they will not hearken unto me: for all the house of Israel are impudent and hardhearted. 8 Behold, I have made thy face strong against their faces, and thy forehead strong against their foreheads.

Ezekiel's task was not an easy one. No prophet's is an easy task. People are like sheep the Bible says, and go their own way. When God wants to speak to them, many times they do not want to hear.

God knew that the Israelites would not listen to Ezekiel. God would give Ezekiel the words to say and he would tell the people. Since they would not listen to God, they would not listen to Ezekiel. However, God wanted to speak to them even though they would not listen.

It is important for the prophet to speak the word of God. Even when people do not hear, he must speak. He must offer the invitation to come to God and remind the people of God's grace and mercy. In order to do this, the prophet needs two things.

First, he needs to remember that he is speaking God's Word, not his own. This is imperative. The apostle Paul instructed Timothy and us all:

2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

No one has the right to find out what people want to hear and then preach that. As a matter of fact, Paul warned that was coming.

2 Timothy 4:3-4 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

It is the Word of God that has the power to change a life!

The second thing the prophet needs is a hard head. God told Ezekiel that he had made his forehead hard against theirs.

Ezekiel 3:9 As an adamant harder than flint have I made thy forehead: fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.

An adamant is hard like diamond. God says it is harder than flint! If the prophet is easily swayed, he will fear the people and give in to them. He will want popularity and will learn to tickle ears instead of simply being faithful to deliver the word of God.

We all need a forehead like adamant. We need to know the Word so well that we can share it in love with those around us. We also must not be swayed when people do not listen. If they reject the message of Jesus, they are not rejecting us, but him.

Some will hear. Let's go tell!

In Christ,
Rody