Observation: Ezekiel is confronted by the Lord while in exile in Babylon, and commissioned as a prophet. While he is not yet given a message, his charge is this ... go to the children of Israel in exile, and say to them whatever instructions the Lord gives. The Lord acknowledges that they likely won't listen. The descendants are stubborn, they have hard heads and hard hearts, and he even offers clarification about the accountability of Ezekiel for when they don't listen (he is accountable if he fails to give the message, but not if he obeys and they don't listen).
However, the Lord provides Ezekiel with one phrase, "Thus says the Lord God." The name of God given here is that of the two highest names of the God, Adonai Yahweh. In this way, there can be no question that Ezekiel is a prophet speaking for the Lord, and the people will know and understand this as a fact. It is within that context - their full knowledge that whatever Ezekiel says to them is from God - that the people will then decide whether or not to obey.
Application: I am seeing more and more how the Lord interacts with people who behave in a paradox ... they know and understand that there is a great God who rules over all creation and with direction and advise for how to live, and they actively choose not to obey God almighty. They either know the truth or have heard the truth or have an understanding of where they could go and what they could do in order to better understand the truth ... and they refuse to engage, refuse to listen or learn, reject that which they have heard, and rely on their own choices.
I like to think the people around me just need to hear the truth. However, the fact is they have heard the truth - they may even have significant knowledge about it at some level - and instead they have chosen to disobey and reject the truth.
I once had a friend tell me that they believe God exists, but have rejected everything about his teaching as meaningless to their life. That paradox cannot be reconciled, and yet God has well understood it within the hearts of man for all of time.
When we - the people of the Church - give others the good news of Jesus, they know it is the truth spoken by the Lord God almighty. Some hear, but many reject it even while believing the context. But we remain accountable for delivering the message.
Prayer: Lord, it is almost time for Christmas lights again. May I have the words of your spirit to give to others about the truth of Jesus Christ. If they are stubborn and rebellious and choose not to obey, that is a matter between you and them. But may I deliver to them the truth, in your name. Amen.
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