What challenges might arise when speaking God's words to a "rebellious people"? The Setting: God’s Messenger Among the Defiant Ezekiel 2:7 – “But you must speak My words to them, whether they listen or refuse to listen, for they are rebellious.” From the start, God lays out the tension: the message is certain; the audience is resistant. --- Core Obstacles in a Rebellious Audience • Closed ears and hardened hearts • Hostility toward correction (Jeremiah 6:10) • Deep-rooted pride that rejects divine authority (Acts 7:51) • Cultural pressures that applaud rebellion (2 Timothy 3:1–5) • Selective hearing—accepting blessings, ignoring warnings (Isaiah 30:10) --- Strains on the Messenger • Emotional fatigue from repeated rejection (Numbers 11:14–15) • Fear of backlash, ridicule, or persecution (Jeremiah 20:7–9) • Temptation to soften or alter God’s word (Galatians 1:10) • Loneliness—few stand with the prophet (2 Timothy 4:16) • Doubt creeping in: “Is anyone listening?” (Ezekiel 33:32) --- Divine Provisions for Endurance • The indwelling Spirit strengthening resolve (Ezekiel 3:12–14) • God’s explicit forewarning—rejection is not failure (Ezekiel 2:6–7) • The promise of God’s presence (Jeremiah 1:8) • The unbreakable authority of Scripture itself (Isaiah 55:11) • Fellow believers who share the load (Acts 4:23–31) --- Practical Commitments When Speaking God’s Words • Keep the message intact—“Thus says the LORD” over personal opinion • Cultivate thick skin and a tender heart simultaneously • Measure success by faithfulness, not immediate results • Pray for the hearers even when they oppose you (Luke 23:34) • Rest regularly in God’s approval, not human applause (1 Thessalonians 2:4) --- The Long-Term Perspective The prophet’s words often take root slowly. Some seeds lie dormant until crisis or conviction awakens them. God assures Ezekiel—and us—that our task is to deliver; the Spirit handles the harvest. |
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