Daily Devotions
Ezekiel
"Impudent and stubborn children"
Text: Ezekiel 2:4
SENT BY THE LORD
Ezekiel needed to have this special vision from the LORD. The ministry of the priests was different from that of a prophet. Ezekiel needed to see and sense the greatness of the LORD before he was ready to be sent as His servant.
“And He said to me:
‘Son of man, I am sending you to the children of Israel,
to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against Me;
they and their fathers have transgressed against Me to this very day.
For they are impudent and stubborn children.
I am sending you to them, and you shall say to them,
‘Thus says the Lord GOD’.
As for them, whether they hear or whether they refuse—
for they are a rebellious house—
yet they will know that a prophet has been among them.'”
Ezekiel 2:3-5
1. “I am sending you”
a) Ezekiel had seen a great vision of the cherubim.
b) More than that, he had heard the voice of the LORD.
c) He had seen the grandness of the glory of God.
d) He was now ready to be sent by the LORD.
2. Israel as the mission field.
a) Not Babylon though he was residing there.
b) But his ministry was to be with the children of Israel.
3. The children of Israel described.
a) A rebellious nation.
b) The nation had rebelled against the LORD Himself.
c) As a nation the children of Israel had transgressed the laws of God.
c) The people were both impudent and stubborn.
4. The message from the LORD.
a) He was to say “Thus says the LORD”.
i) Ezekiel must be prepared.
ii) He must know that the children of Israel were “a rebellious house”.
b) Two possible responses were considered:
i) They would hear and repent.
ii) They refuse to hear and would retain their sinful ways.
c) Either way, they would know.
i) God had done His part.
ii) He had sent them a messenger.
iii) He had sent a prophet to speak to them.