He hadn’t expected it to be him. Nothing had prepared him for it. Not exile. Not eating a scroll. Not being closed in his house, tied with ropes, and unable to speak. Not laying a siege against a brick as if he were a child at play. Not lying on first one side, then the other, to represent how long the people had been running from God. Not the eating of scant amounts of defiled food. Not shaving his head and beard to weigh the hair like a madman, then burn some, slice some, scatter some. Nothing, not even his wildest imaginations, had prepared Ezekiel to be the answer to his own prayers for his people. Yet he was. (Ezekiel 3-5)
As a priest, of course, he had prayed for his straying, sinful people. Many times he had sacrificed on their behalf as they did their due diligence. He’d begged God to forgive their waywardness. Perhaps, in the silence of an empty temple, he’d plead with God to somehow, someway bring them back to the old paths. Paths of obedience. Paths of righteousness. Paths of God. He’d likely never prayed to be the vessel God would use to bring them back. He’d probably never thought his life would become the example of their sin and illumination of their punishment. As his prayers ascended, it likely never crossed his mind that God would call him, Ezekiel, son of Buzi, one priest among many, to warn his rebellious people to sit up, take notice, and acknowledge that God is the Lord of all the earth.
Because he’d never expected to be chosen as the answer to his own prayers, Ezekiel was quite unsuspecting on that ordinary day as he stood gazing out over the river. I wonder what he was thinking. Was he wishing for a rescue from exile? Was he considering options of deliverance for his people? Or was he again imploring God to send help? Regardless of where his mind was, Ezekiel wasn’t expecting a heavenly visit. He never dreamed he’d be blessed with a vision of God. Fascinating cherubim. Magnificent Heavenly throne. The glory of God was revealed in a stunning display, leaving him speechless, awestruck. He wasn’t expecting it, but it was certainly welcome! That glimpse of glory dropped him to his knees, bowing in reverence, honor, and adoration. It was a welcome respite from the mess around him. (Ezekiel 1)
God’s children had wandered away from the paths of God. They had broken their covenant with the Almighty. They had followed false prophets. They had worshipped idols. They had profaned God’s house. So deeply steeped in rebellion, obstinance, and sin, their insolent hearts had no desire to change, to hear truth, to follow God. Waking them from their hedonistic stupor seemed improbable. They were disinclined to listen, even less inclined to obey. Fortunately for them, the merciful God of Heaven wasn’t done trying. He had a plan. (Ezekiel 5:6-7; 6; 7)
As Ezekiel lay prostrate in reverential wonder that the great God of the universe would reveal Himself to a humble priest, the most phenomenal thing happened. That same great God, full of holiness and purity, upon which no human gaze could stand to rest, chose to speak. To Ezekiel. He called him out, set him apart, and assigned him a holy occupation. The formidable task of being the warning voice of God to a generation of people who didn’t want to listen, refused to hear, were recalcitrant to adhere. Yet God said, “Tell them anyway.” (Exodus 33:20; Ezekiel 1:28-2:7)
There doesn’t seem to be a record of Ezekiel having second thoughts about becoming God’s prophet. I wouldn’t find fault with him if he had. I wonder how many times, knowing what response he would receive, Ezekiel sighed deeply before imparting the words of the Lord to people who would scoff and scorn. I wonder how often, if ever, he wished someone else could be the example, speak the words, withstand the impending rejection. Do we not do the same?
How often are you hesitant to speak Biblical truth into a conversation because you know the hearers aren’t interested? How careful are you to use less bold language about God for fear of offending someone who chooses not to believe? How slow are you to warn those headed down a disastrous path to turn to God because you are afraid they will rebuff you? How cautious are you to point out the goodness and power of God at work in your own life to people who would erroneously give His praise to you? How likely are you to stand up, speak up for God in a world aggressively seeking to deny His character, alter His attributes, refute His existence, prostrate His power?
Our world is exactly there. It takes little time or effort to notice the unmitigated disaster our society has become. Depraved. Debauched. Debased. Degenerate. They relish their sin, rejoice in their defiance of God. They call it freedom, title it love, all while becoming more ensnared by the evil that binds them. Our society is absolutely like that of Ezekiel’s day, barrelling down a horribly ending collision course with eternity, heedless of the warning signs. There is just one difference. Where are our Ezekiel’s?
Where are those God has called to stand up and speak out? Where are the people unafraid to call sin what it is? Where are the brave men and women who are willing to speak truth to a rebellious and sinful generation whether they want to hear it or not, whether they listen or not, whether they adhere or not to that truth? Is it you? Well…is it?
As you sit in your comfy chair piously reading your Bible, thanking God that you have redemption and are not like all those other lost people out there, are you praying for them? Are you praying for revival across our deeply iniquitous land? Really praying. Not a quick prayer to salve your conscience and check a box on your prayer list. Not a half-hearted, disbelieving prayer that questions its ability to garner a response. No. Are you truly praying? Fervently. Faithfully. Pleading. Begging. Weeping. Asking, then asking again in brokenness over the imminent loss of souls. Are you earnestly praying for your world? (James 5:16; Luke 11:9; Lamentations 2:11, 18-19; Jeremiah 8:18-9:1)
What are you expecting from those prayers? Missionaries? Ministers? Teachers? Prophets? Who do you expect God to call as a witness, an example, to your colleagues, your neighbors, your friends, your circle? Someone younger? Bolder? More effervescent? What’s wrong with you? Why can’t you do it? What are you waiting for? Writing on a wall? Lightning bolts from Heaven? A voicemail from God? (Matthew 9:37-38; Jude 1:23; Mark 16:15; Proverbs 11:30)
Perhaps it came and you missed it. You should check again. Ask God again whom He’d like to do His work. Listen closely for His response. It’s you. It’s me. It is everyone who claims to know Jesus. And it isn’t optional. If you truly know Jesus, you will do it. You will speak God’s message to the people around you. Preach. Testify. Write. Do it boldly. Don’t be afraid of those who disagree or dislike what you have to say. Speak God’s words anyway. Do your part. Open your heart and let God fill it with the words He wants people to hear. Then boldly, faithfully speak those words in love, in kindness, in truth. Don’t hide. Don’t cower. You have been called. Called to be an Ezekiel to a world that will die without one. (I Corinthians 3:9; Matthew 28:19-21; Deuteronomy 6:6-8; Psalm 37:30; II Timothy 4:2; Colossians 4:6; Ezekiel 2:1-7, 3:4-11)
Amen!