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.
I read these verses from Ezekiel recently, and I realized that they could have easily been addressed to me – to us, and not only for the Old Testament Prophet. Now, I certainly don’t consider myself a prophet like Ezekiel, but I do believe that I have a mission on this earth to witness to the greatness of my Lord and Savior. Don’t all children of His have this mission (or more accurately, this commission)?
Let’s break it down:
“Son of man, I am sending you to the children of Israel….”
I am a child of Abraham by faith (see Galations 3:7), which makes me ‘kin’ with Israel.
“…to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against Me; they and their fathers have transgressed against Me to this very day.”
Do I really even need to explain that this could easily describe the United States of America?
“For they are impudent and stubborn children.”
Yep, that sounds like us, as well, does it not?
“I am sending you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’”
In the Great Commission, Jesus directed all of us to “Go, and make disciples….” – how is that different than being sent out to speak the Truth of 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.”
Again, not claiming that I am (or you are) in the same league with Ezekiel, nor do I believe any of us can make even a single person ‘come to Jesus’ through our own efforts.
We are commissioned to plant the seeds; to let them hear (or refuse); to let them know what “says the Lord God” - if the seeds we plant find good soil, take root and grow, then we are witnessing God in action! Let's go, and see what He can accomplish through us!