As we focus on Ezekiel 2:1-8 let’s pay attention to keywords and phrases that describe the rebellion of God’s people.
(1) Rebels/Rebelled – The people of Israel are described as “rebels” who have rebelled against God. The term “rebel” suggests a willful act of defiance or resistance against authority, especially divine authority.
(2) Transgressed – This word implies crossing boundaries or violating commands, highlighting their ongoing disobedience.
(3) Impudent – The descendants are characterized as “impudent,” which means shameless, bold, or disrespectful, reflecting a hardened attitude toward correction.
(4) Stubborn – They are also described as “stubborn,” indicating a resistance to change, correction, or submission to God’s will.
(5) Rebellious House – This phrase is repeated several times to emphasize the persistent and collective nature of the people’s disobedience, not just as individuals but as a whole community that rejects God’s authority.
A famous revivalist from the last century, Billy Sunday, used to say, “Don’t pop up your spiritual umbrella and let this message run off on someone else.”
As we think of these terms of rebellion and look at God’s word to Ezekiel, let’s apply Sunday’s words to ourselves, put down our spiritual umbrella, and let them confront our lives.
Stand on Your Feet
After Ezekiel encountered the glory of God, he reacted as any human would—he fell on his face before the overwhelming presence of God’s glory. It was the power of the Holy Spirit that lifted him to his feet so he could receive God’s message.
This message would contain his marching orders as God’s prophet to the exiles in Babylon.
He said to me: “O mortal, stand up on your feet, and I will speak with you.”
And when he spoke to me, a spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard him speaking to me (Ezekiel 2.1-2).
Henry Blackaby discusses the idea of God’s appointment, emphasizing that when God appoints us to a task, we must remain faithful to that service—whether it is enjoyable or extremely difficult—until God chooses to remove the appointment.
In Ezekiel’s case, God informed him in advance that his assignment would be exceptionally challenging.
It’s possible that Ezekiel received such a powerful vision of God to strengthen his resolve and equip him to endure one of the most difficult appointments a person could face.
He said to me, “Mortal, I am sending you to the people of Israel, to a nation of rebels who have rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have transgressed against me to this very day.
The descendants are impudent and stubborn. I am sending you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’
Whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house), they shall know that there has been a prophet among them (Ezekiel 2.3-5).
The summary of terms for rebellion that I outlined at the beginning of my article highlights the immense difficulty of Ezekiel’s task.
We should ask ourselves: how do we, as individuals and as a part of American culture, resemble these descriptions of rebellion?
It’s important to remember that God gave us these words so that we would take them to heart and repent where needed.
Fear Not
An internet search shows that the phrase “fear not” appears 365 times in the Bible, serving as a daily reminder to place our confidence in the fear of the Lord, rather than in fear of what others may say or do.
God essentially told Ezekiel, “Do not fear what they say, but fear Me.”
“And you, O mortal, do not be afraid of them, and do not be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns surround you and you live among scorpions; do not be afraid of their words, and do not be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house.
“You shall speak my words to them, whether they hear or refuse to hear, for they are a rebellious house.
But you, mortal, hear what I say to you; do not be rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you” (Ezekiel 2.6-8).
Ezekiel was a living example of the truth of Jesus’ words about the narrow path of obedience.
“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it.
“For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).
We are living in a culture that mirrors the rebellious terms described in Ezekiel. Choosing to walk the narrow path, rather than following the wide path of society, requires both a deliberate decision and the power of the Holy Spirit.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross and I discussed this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 