Based on Ezekiel 2:1 – 3:3 (New King James Version)
“And He said to me, ‘Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak to you.’ Then the Spirit entered me when He spoke to me, and set me on my feet; and I heard Him who spoke to me. 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. ‘And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you dwell among scorpions; do not be afraid of their words or dismayed by their looks, though they are a rebellious house. You shall speak My words to them, whether they hear or whether they refuse, for they are rebellious. But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Do not be rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you.’ Now when I looked, there was a hand stretched out to me; and behold, a scroll of a book was in it. Then He spread it before me; and there was writing on the inside and on the outside, and written on it were lamentations and mourning and woe. Moreover He said to me, ‘Son of man, eat what you find; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.’ So I opened my mouth, and He caused me to eat that scroll. And He said to me, ‘Son of man, feed your belly, and fill your stomach with this scroll that I give you.’ So I ate, and it was in my mouth like honey in sweetness.”
It is believed that the prophet Ezekiel began his ministry in 593 BC—more specifically, on July 31, 593 BC. This corresponds to the fifth year of King Jehoiachin’s exile and, even more significantly, occurs four years after King Nebuchadnezzar began the deportation of the Jews to Babylon (597 BC). This is important because it provides context regarding the audience to whom Ezekiel was to preach to. The temple of the Lord—and Jerusalem itself—had not yet been destroyed; that would occur around 587 BC, when Nebuchadnezzar laid siege to Jerusalem. In other words, the destruction of the nation had begun—the Babylonian king was already taking captives—but the total collapse of the nation had not yet arrived. It was a moment in history where a glimmer of human hope remained, even amidst the nation’s profound spiritual decay.
God called and sent the prophet Ezekiel to speak to His people during their lowest spiritual point, a time before they had fully experienced the consequences of their sin. This is why it is said that a sense of human hope persisted—the people still believed they could resolve their grave predicament through their own efforts, all while leaving their deep-seated spiritual corruption entirely unchanged. The people of Israel had descended into the worst kinds of depravity; they not only worshipped idols but also offered both animal and human sacrifices to them. They even worshipped the god Molech—represented by a stone statue outside the city—which they would heat until it was scorching, placing their living newborns upon its outstretched arms to be consumed as burnt offerings. They engaged in all the practices associated with such idolatry, filling the temple of the Lord with this paganism. They practiced adultery, fornication, theft, fraud, and the exploitation and abuse of the defenseless—such as widows and orphans. It was to this—a people who were exceedingly sinful, wicked, and perverse, showing neither remorse nor any sign of repentance—that God sent the prophet Ezekiel. This was the state of both the general population and most religious leaders; most had become corrupt and were in rebellion against the Lord.
Many might be shocked by the condition of Israel back then, yet the vast majority of those who call themselves God’s people today—both the religious leaders and the people themselves—are in the very same state. There may be no statues of Molech in our churches, but how many children are being literally sacrificed through abortion? And how many Christian parents allow the secular system to raise and educate their children, failing to take the time to pray with them, instruct them personally in the way of the Lord, or read the Word of God with them—all of which would equip them to face the world around them? What, too, of the adultery, fornication, and sexual depravity found in many of our congregations—behaviors that are not only accepted, but even endorsed and held up as examples of love? And what of the idolatry that exists today, where people worship and live for the greatest idols of all: materialism, money, and the worship of the ego—of the "self"? These are the primary concerns within most of our congregations. Leaders speak incessantly about money and its importance—naturally, to sustain and even fund their own lifestyles, to maintain and justify their possessions, and their travels and vacations. And what, then, is the predominant message being preached from the pulpit? It is not about serving or loving the Lord, but rather about gratifying the ego—the "self"—and treating the King of kings and Lord of lords as if He were our servant. Faith is preached solely to achieve personal goals and satisfy vanities. Instead of "Thy will be done," it is now, "do our will." This is the general state in which the universal Church finds itself today. Therefore, we cannot point the finger at the Israel of that time, for we are in an even more serious state of decline. They had not yet witnessed the manifestation of the Messiah, but we have. We have seen the promise fulfilled: the birth, life, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. And as the Word says: “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. And again, ‘The Lord will judge His people.’” Hebrews 10:26-30.
Therefore, if we wish to see the grace of God—especially in eternity, where it matters most (since this entire world will one day come to an end)—let us not be rebellious, as the Lord once described His own people. Let us not wait until it is too late, when no further opportunity remains. Let us not place our faith and hope in the things of this world, while simultaneously expecting God to show us mercy. One cannot lead a sinful lifestyle and expect the goodness of God at the same time. Decide, once and for all, whether you will love and serve the Lord, or whether you will choose your own destruction. God is a merciful God, full of goodness, yet He has His limits; He only tolerates rebellion up to a certain point. If that rebellion persists, it may push the Lord beyond those limits, resulting only in destruction—both in the immediate present and, worse still, in eternity. Therefore, for your own sake, if you are living in rebellion against God, turn back now, before it is too late. Seek not only to read His Word but to live it out, for it is sweeter than honey and leads to eternal life. Will you turn back in time to receive mercy, before destruction suddenly arrives? Lord bless! John. God bless Israel!