Why might God send Ezekiel to his own people despite their stubbornness? The Setting in Ezekiel 3:6 “Surely if I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you.” God tells Ezekiel that foreign nations with “unfamiliar speech” would have responded, yet He still sends the prophet to Israel. Why? God’s Covenant Loyalty • Israel is God’s chosen nation (Exodus 19:5–6). • Covenant faithfulness obliges Him to keep speaking to them—even when they refuse to hear (Leviticus 26:44–45). • Sending Ezekiel reaffirms God’s steadfast commitment: He will not abandon the people He pledged Himself to. Establishing Justice and Accountability • “Son of man, I have made you a watchman” (Ezekiel 3:17). A watchman warns; the people cannot claim ignorance when judgment comes. • God’s righteousness is displayed when He judges only after offering clear warning (Ezekiel 18:23, 32). • Romans 2:1–5 echoes this principle: persistent rebellion stores up wrath because truth has been unmistakably presented. Preserving a Remnant • Within the stubborn nation, a responsive few still exist (Romans 11:5). • Promises of a new heart and Spirit (Ezekiel 11:19; 36:26–27) are aimed at these listeners. • Ezekiel’s preaching becomes the seed God uses to awaken that remnant. Demonstrating Grace in the Midst of Judgment • Even severe rebukes are grace-filled opportunities to repent (2 Peter 3:9). • Israel’s exile would prove God’s holiness, but the prophetic word offered a path back (Ezekiel 33:11). Foreshadowing Christ’s Mission • “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.” (John 1:11) • Jesus, like Ezekiel, proclaimed truth first to the covenant people. Their rejection highlighted divine faithfulness, opened salvation to the nations, and fulfilled prophecy (Acts 13:46–47). Application for Today • Stubborn hearts do not cancel God’s call to speak truth; they heighten its urgency. • Faithfulness is measured by obedience, not by audience response (1 Corinthians 4:1–2). • God still reaches out to hardened people through His Word, proving that His mercy endures even when ears remain closed. |
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