Ezekiel 2:1-10: a reflection

1He said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak with you.” 2The Spirit entered into me when he spoke to me, and set me on my feet; and I heard him who spoke to me. 3He said to me, “Son of man, I send you to the children of Israel, to a nation of rebels who have rebelled against me. They and their fathers have transgressed against me even to this very day. 4The children are impudent and stiff-hearted. I am sending you to them, and you shall tell them, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says.’ 5They, whether they will hear, or whether they will refuse—for they are a rebellious house—yet they will know that there has been a prophet among them. 6You, son of man, don’t be afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you, and you dwell among scorpions. Don’t be afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they are a rebellious house. 7You shall speak my words to them, whether they will hear or whether they will refuse; for they are most rebellious. 8But you, son of man, hear what I tell you. Don’t be rebellious like that rebellious house. Open your mouth, and eat that which I give you.” 9When I looked, behold, a hand was stretched out to me; and behold, a scroll of a book was in it. 10He spread it before me. It was written within and without; and lamentations, mourning, and woe were written in it.

When God commissions Ezekiel as a prophet, he sends him to a rebellious, hard-hearted people, and he is honest about the reception Ezekiel may get. You shall speak my words to them, God says, whether they will hear or whether they will refuse. And he tells Ezekiel not to be afraid of them or their words, though he dwells among briers and thorns and scorpions. Ezekiel's task was to speak God's words faithfully, regardless of whether the people would listen; his faithfulness was not to depend on their response, nor was he to be deterred by their hostility.

Notice the charge: to speak God's words faithfully, whether people hear or refuse, undeterred by hostility. God did not promise Ezekiel a receptive audience; the people were rebellious and hard-hearted, and might well refuse to listen. But Ezekiel was to speak God's words all the same, whether they heard or refused; his faithfulness was to be measured by his obedience in speaking, not by their response. And he was not to be afraid of them or deterred by their hostility, though it surrounded him like thorns and scorpions. His task was to be faithful, whatever the reception.

That charge is worth taking to heart, for we too may be called to speak or live God's truth where it is not welcome, and our faithfulness must not depend on the response. When we speak or live God's truth among those who may refuse it, or are even hostile, we can be tempted to soften or withhold it, or to be deterred by the hostility; but Ezekiel was to speak faithfully whether they heard or refused, undeterred by their hostility. Do not measure your faithfulness by whether people receive God's truth, softening or withholding it when it is unwelcome; speak and live it faithfully, whether people hear or refuse, as Ezekiel was charged. And do not be deterred by hostility or opposition, though it surround you like thorns; be faithful in speaking and living God's truth regardless of the response, as Ezekiel was sent to speak God's words whether the people would hear or refuse, not afraid of their words or dismayed at their looks.

Lord, when you commission Ezekiel as a prophet, you send him to a rebellious, hard-hearted people, and you are honest about the reception he may get. You shall speak my words to them, you say, whether they will hear or whether they will refuse. And you tell Ezekiel not to be afraid of them or their words, though he dwells among briers and thorns and scorpions. His task was to speak your words faithfully, regardless of whether the people would listen; his faithfulness was not to depend on their response. Show me the charge: to speak your words faithfully, whether people hear or refuse, undeterred by hostility. You did not promise Ezekiel a receptive audience; but he was to speak your words all the same. His faithfulness was to be measured by his obedience in speaking, not by their response. And he was not to be afraid or deterred by their hostility. Take that charge to my heart, for I too may be called to speak or live your truth where it is not welcome, and my faithfulness must not depend on the response. When I speak or live your truth among those who may refuse it, I can be tempted to soften or withhold it, or to be deterred by the hostility; but Ezekiel was to speak faithfully whether they heard or refused. Keep me from measuring my faithfulness by whether people receive your truth; help me speak and live it faithfully, Lord, whether people hear or refuse. And keep me from being deterred by hostility or opposition; help me be faithful regardless of the response, as Ezekiel was sent to speak your words whether the people would hear or refuse.