Ezekiel's Example

I've been reading the book of Ezekiel each evening and I am always impressed by the intricate object lessons God provided His people through Ezekiel's obedience.  The prophet Ezekiel had an inquisitive audience who wondered over the strange things he did, like making a model of Jerusalem on a tile and laying siege to it, lying on his left side for 390 days and on his right side for 40 days, ate his food by weight (20 shekels a day) and drank water by measure (about 600 millilitres), and even baked bread with cow dung.  God made Ezekiel a sign to the rebellious house of Israel, to people who largely ignored God's warning of coming judgment.

It requires faith in God to obey Him, especially when it seems nothing positive comes from our efforts.  It would have been easy for Ezekiel to be discouraged if he looked to his hearers for justification to continue.  Some have said, "If only one person hears the message, it's worth it."  Every person is precious in the eyes of the LORD who loves them, yet I am convinced Ezekiel did not content himself with the hope one person heard and responded in obedience.  Ezekiel's motivation to open his mouth and do as God directed was simply obedience to the LORD God regardless of what others thought of him.  Ezekiel's primary audience was not the people or a person but the almighty God who is worthy of all praise, worship and obedience.  What a good example for us all!

The prophets detailed in scripture (from a human, worldly perspective) had varying degrees of success.  Over 100 years Noah was a preacher of righteousness who convinced only his immediate family to enter the ark while through the preaching of Jonah for 3 days all the inhabitants of Nineveh repented in sackcloth and ashes.  Sometimes prophets like Jeremiah and Ezekiel were not listened to at all, their words a testimony of God's love and grace to warn rebellious people who would refuse to heed.  If people applaud this ought not to boost our resolve to continue, and should they complain or not even show up this should not discourage us from obedience to our awesome God who has revealed Himself to us.  When no one turns up to a prayer meeting or Bible study we prepared to lead instead of losing heart we can take courage and be strengthened in Christ.

Because God's ways and thoughts are higher than ours we can wonder what He is doing when nothing seems to be happening.  It may be within our own hearts and minds God has much work yet to accomplish.  Know what God has promised He is able to perform (Rom. 4:21), the work He has begun He is faithful to complete (Phil. 1:6) and we are complete in Him (Col. 2:10).  Jeers and praise taken to heart both pose risks for the Christian who is tempted to play to the crowd or even one person rather than speaking forth and living out what God has written in His word.  Praise the LORD Jesus is wisdom for us, the Holy Spirit comforts us and helps us do our duty as God's servants with love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness and self-control.