Rebels

(I originally wrote and posted this to my previous blog on 03/13/2007.)

Reading: Yehezqel (Ezekiel) 1-2

Yehezqel was a priest during the time of the exile of Yehudah, and his book begins with some amazing visions. Even with Yehezqel's detailed descriptions, it is still difficult to picture what he saw, but his reaction is very easy to identify with:

Eze 1:28 As the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the brightness all around it. This was the appearance of the likeness of the esteem of יהוה. And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of One speaking.

I think we can all imagine falling on our faces upon seeing the "likeness of the esteem of יהוה"!

The Voice tells Yehezqel that He is sending him to the children of Yisra'el and gives him instructions:

Eze 2:4 "And the children are stiff of face and hard of heart to whom I am sending you, and you shall say to them, 'Thus said the Master יהוה.'
Eze 2:5 "And they - whether they hear or whether they refuse, for they are a rebellious house - shall know that a prophet has been in their midst.
Eze 2:6 "And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them, nor be afraid of their words, though thistles and thorns are with you and you dwell among scorpions. Do not be afraid of their words or discouraged by their looks, for they are a rebellious house.
Eze 2:7 "And you shall speak My words to them, whether they hear or whether they refuse, for they are rebellious.
Eze 2:8 "And you, son of man, hear what I am speaking to you. Do not be rebellious like that rebellious house, open your mouth and eat what I am giving you."

This phrase is spoken twice: "whether they hear or whether they refuse". Yehezqel is to go to the rebellious and speak what He gives him to speak whether they have ears to hear or not and no matter what threats they make and no matter how many dirty looks they give him.

It seems that especially when one is in the company of the rebellious, it is a challenge to know when to speak and when to remain silent. It can be very uncomfortable. Sometimes we will get 'looks' even when we are silent. And often it seems like there is no point because previous experience has shown that rebels don't want to hear what the Scriptures have to say.

But here YHWH is telling Yehezqel to speak to the rebellious anyway simply because He is telling him to, "whether they hear or whether they refuse".

It is not our responsibility to coerce the rebellious into hearing His Word, but it IS our responsibility to obey YHWH and speak His Word whenever and to whomever He tells us to, regardless of their reaction, and in order to do that, we need to eliminate any rebellion in our own hearts.