In daily life, we can always identify a few hard-hearted people who lack compassion, are unkind, or even cruel. Typically, these folks are insensitive and unconcerned about the feelings or suffering of others; they are focused on protecting self. They press on like they answer to no one and are entitled to demand their own way. That may be true in the hearts of unbelievers, but it should never be the attitude or emotional display of Christ’s disciples.
There are many reasons for a person to become hard-hearted; one of which is some form of traumatic experience. God loves people and is compassionate about these wounds left behind, but wants to heal and deliver his children from sowing unrighteous seeds out of their pain. In the midst of facing these traumatic situations, believers must never become hard-hearted—lack the ability to accept God’s grace and help.
The very nation that had the greatest knowledge of God’s love and deliverance was living in rebellion—Israel knew they were dishonoring God, but chose to do it anyway. God does not let his people become imprisoned in this place. Israel is bound by their hard hearts, so God plans to confront this issue by sending the prophet Ezekiel with the Word. The Spirit comes into Ezekiel and speaks to his heart; he eats [absorbs and applies] the Word and then goes to give God’s message to the people.
The Lord always prepares his messengers of the Truth. God tells Ezekiel how the people will respond to the message he is commissioned to bring Israel. It is not Ezekiel’s responsibility to control or react to how the people will respond; he is simply to share the message. So, God sends Ezekiel to warn them the Lord is aware of their rebellious ways. Ezekiel will be dishonored, as well, but he is not to respond in fear or join in their rebellion. In fact, our passage teaches God makes Ezekiel righteously obstinate [standing like a wall for Truth] who will not fail to deliver God’s message.
It is the work of the enemy to use our most challenging and even traumatic experiences in life to lure us into dishonoring God and his love. When God’s Spirit speaks in our hearts, we must listen and respond with active faith. Every messenger of God must eat the Word and put it into practice in his or her life before being able to effectively share the Truth with others.
Ezekiel 2:8-3:11 NLT
2:8 Son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not join them in their rebellion. Open your mouth, and eat what I give you.”
9 Then I looked and saw a hand reaching out to me. It held a scroll, 10 which he unrolled. And I saw that both sides were covered with funeral songs, words of sorrow, and pronouncements of doom.
3:1 The voice said to me, “Son of man, eat what I am giving you—eat this scroll! Then go and give its message to the people of Israel.” 2 So I opened my mouth, and he fed me the scroll. 3 “Fill your stomach with this,” he said. And when I ate it, it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth.
4 Then he said, “Son of man, go to the people of Israel and give them my messages. 5 I am not sending you to a foreign people whose language you cannot understand. 6 No, I am not sending you to people with strange and difficult speech. If I did, they would listen!
7 But the people of Israel won’t listen to you any more than they listen to me! For the whole lot of them are hard-hearted and stubborn. 8 But look, I have made you as obstinate and hard-hearted as they are. 9 I have made your forehead as hard as the hardest rock! So don’t be afraid of them or fear their angry looks, even though they are rebels.”
10 Then he added, “Son of man, let all my words sink deep into your own heart first. Listen to them carefully for yourself. 11 Then go to your people in exile and say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says!’ Do this whether they listen to you or not.”
Prayer: Lord, thank you for making us, as believers, strong and focused in delivering your message of love to the world. We know your confronting message about sin or unbelief will not always be well received or welcomed, but we must share it anyway. Please protect our hearts and make us bold and courageous like Ezekiel with the Truth. Holy Spirit, help us to release your message of love each day to someone who needs to hear it. Our call is to share the message as you take us to the people who need you. Make believers faithful to our commission as we call upon your name. In Jesus’ name. Amen.