How does Ezekiel 2:4 describe the attitude of the Israelites toward God? Setting the Context God commissions Ezekiel to speak to a nation already steeped in rebellion. The description in 2:4 is not hyperbole; it is God’s assessment of hearts that have resisted Him for generations. The Verse at a Glance Ezekiel 2:4: “The children are obstinate and hardhearted. I am sending you to them, and you are to say to them, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says.’” Key Terms Explored • Obstinate – a willful refusal to be guided or corrected, even when truth is plainly set before them. • Hardhearted – an inner callousness that dulls spiritual sensitivity; conscience and affections no longer respond to God’s voice. What This Reveals about the Heart of Israel • Persistent rebellion: They acknowledge God’s existence yet resist His lordship. • Dullness to conviction: Repeated warnings no longer penetrate. • Prideful autonomy: They prefer self-rule to divine authority. • Corporate as well as individual: The term “children” highlights a national, generational pattern. Relevant Cross-References • Exodus 32:9 – “I have seen this people; indeed, they are a stiff-necked people.” • Deuteronomy 31:27 – “For I know how rebellious and stiff-necked you are.” • Psalm 95:8 – “Do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah.” • Acts 7:51 – “You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit.” Each passage echoes the same diagnostic language, underscoring that Israel’s attitude in Ezekiel’s day was neither new nor temporary. Implications for Us Today • God’s Word stands—its assessments are accurate and final. • Rebellion begins in the heart long before it surfaces in actions. • A hard heart can still hear God’s messenger; accountability remains. • The remedy is always humble submission and repentance—God’s consistent call through every prophet and apostle. |
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