God Speaks
The LORD Commisions Ezekiel (Using Various Visions and Object Lessons) to Speak to His Rebellious People
Verse of the Day: But the people of Israel are not willing to listen to you because they are not willing to listen to me, for all the Israelites are hardened and obstinate. I will make you as unyielding and hardened as they are. I will make your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint. Do not be afraid of them or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people. (Ezekiel 3:7-9 NIV 2011)
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We Respond
Reflection: Consider the following questions regarding Ezekiel 1-4:
1. What does this chapter tell me about God?
2. What does this chapter tell me about the human beings He created?
Here is one possible answer to each of these questions. Ask the Holy Spirit if there are any others for you personally to ponder.
Ezekiel 1
1. The LORD God is indescribably beautiful and awe-inspiring, served and surrounded by majestic creatures that are mystifying.
2. The glory of the LORD should move us with awe as it did Ezekiel (vs 26-28).
Ezekiel 2
1. God sends prophets like Ezekiel to speak to His rebellious people, whether they will listen or not.
2. Oftentimes the people of God don’t listen to Him, but those who don’t know Him do listen.
Ezekiel 3
1. May the glory of the LORD God be praised in His presence.
2. Before a prophet (or a pastor, preacher, or teacher) speaks to the people, he or she should listen carefully and let all the words of the LORD sink into their own heart first.
Ezekiel 4
1. God reveals and/or adjusts His plans when discussing them with His faithful people like Ezekiel.
2. Stubborn, rebellious people will suffer consequences.
Prayer:
3. How might I pray regarding Ezekiel 1-4?
O LORD God, You are indescribably beautiful and awe-inspiring. No matter how hard people like Moses, Ezekiel, Isaiah, the apostle John, and others have tried, they just cannot portray the extent of Your majesty. It will take all of eternity to fathom even a small fraction of who You really are. You are served and surrounded by majestic creatures that are mystifying. Your glory, O LORD, should move us, mere human beings, with awe as it did Ezekiel, Isaiah, and John. It should also move us to active obedience. God, You send us, Your servants, to speak to rebellious people like we have been in the past, whether they will listen or not. Oftentimes, we (the people of God) don’t listen to You, while those who have never heard Your name before do listen. May Your glory, O LORD God, be praised in Your presence now and forevermore. Before one of Your servants, be they a prophet, a pastor, a preacher, a teacher, or an ordinary believer, speaks to people, he or she should listen carefully and let all Your words, LORD, sink into their own heart first. LORD God, when You reveal or discuss Your plans and purposes with Your faithful people like Ezekiel, Abraham, or Moses, You sometimes graciously make adjustments. Please, by Your grace, change the hearts of Your stubborn, rebellious people so that we will not have to suffer the consequences. Then we will all bring You glory, LORD. AMEN
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, if He wants you to work on one of the suggestions below or something else more personal that He points out.)
4. What action does the LORD want me to take in response to Ezekiel 1-4? With the help of God’s Holy Spirit:
- I will research the meaning of the four living creatures and the wheels within wheels.
- I will determine if the modern city of Tel Aviv, Israel and Tel-abib in this chapter are in the same geographic location or related in any way.
- I will deliver any message God gives me for people even if they scowl and rebel against it.
- I will respectfully ask God for clarification of any of His instructions that seem strange to me.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.