Ezekiel had a difficult job ahead of him. God was giving him the unenviable task of bringing a message of discipline and judgment to His people. “Then He said to me, “Son of man, I am sending you to the sons of Israel, to a rebellious people who have rebelled against Me; they and their fathers have transgressed against Me to this very day. I am sending you to them who are stubborn and obstinate children, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD’” (Ezekiel 2:3–4). Doesn’t sound like much fun, does it? But, thankfully, God also had a plan in place to prepare Ezekiel for what lay ahead. “Behold, I have made your face as hard as their faces and your forehead as hard as their foreheads. “Like emery harder than flint I have made your forehead. Do not be afraid of them or be dismayed before them, though they are a rebellious house”” (Ezekiel 3:8–9).
Some children are more compliant than others. Compliant kids don’t take a lot of parenting expertise. But other children seem to be born shaking their little fist at the world around them. These small packages of defiance are a whole different ballgame. We euphemistically refer to them as “strong-willed.” Parents of strong-willed children have their work cut out for them. They learn (some sooner and some later) that the strength of their will must exceed the strength of the will of their little “rebel.” Strong-willed children require strong-willed parents!
God had some stubborn, obstinate, and rebellious children on His hands. That is why He needed a hard-headed prophet! As a spokesman for God, Ezekiel was going to need a determination that matched and exceeded the determination of those who heard him. He would be tempted to give up. His patience would be tested to the limit. But with God’s help, he could do it!
Lord, help me to be hard-headed without being hard-hearted. As a disciple of Jesus, may I learn to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15) in every circumstance.
God loves you!
Mike
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