The scholars often refer to them as “call narratives.” The Biblical accounts of God commissioning his men for service! I love those paragraphs of Scripture. I’ve even thought about preaching a week (Revival) from them, Jeremiah’s and Isaiah’s and Paul’s … others as well.
Today in Ezekiel chapter 2 we hear of another such “call to preach,” Ezekiel’s.
And the chapter is short enough we can review it all, being only 10 verses.
Verse 1 reports the Lord asking a prostrate Ezekiel to “stand up” to receive a message. The man obeyed and immediately he reports in verse 2: “And the Spirit entered into me.” The Holy Spirit, no doubt. (Two observations can be made. Obey God … “stand up” … and the Spirit can better fill you … “entered into me!” Thus, obedience is a precedent for Spirit filled living! Secondly, “receive God’s Word” eagerly … and the Spirit can “use you” more effectively. “And the Spirit entered into me when He (God) spake unto me.” Wow!
Verses 3 and 4 record the “call” precisely. Twice the verb “shalach” is here used, a few times meaning “to sow” seed in the field! God needs Prophets “among” His people. But then watch how realistic God is here: “I send (shalach) thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against me.” Moses got into trouble calling the Jews “rebels!” But God can do so with no wrong … He is their Creator!
Verse 5 has a clause that has impressed me for years. “And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a rebellious house,) yet shall know that there hath been a prophet among them.” They may obey, they may not obey (sounds like liberty, God given) … but at least they will know … A REAL MAN OF GOD HAS BEEN IN THEIR MIDST! Oh, that we Preachers would desire to live that way! That those to whom we minister would be aware of our sincerity and godliness and power.
Usually “call narratives” have some clause advising (and providing) “boldness, lack of fear,” in the face of opposition. Verse 6 for example: “And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.” I personally wonder if the “briers and thorns” may be part of God’s “hedge of protection” around Ezekiel. (Satan was pretty sure God had done this for Job. “Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side?” Job 1:10)
Ezekiel, don’t even fear their “looks!” The Hebrew here is “paniym,” their “faces!” Having now preached many years, I think I understand a little of what was meant here! Facial expressions tell a lot!
By the way, verse 7 gives the young Prophet his “message.” In general, anyway. God is talking: “Thou shalt speak MY WORDS unto them.” Ezekiel did not have to come up with his own material! What comfort!
Then in verse 8 for the first time (of around 90 times in the Book) … Ezekiel is called by God “son of man.” The Prophet’s proper name is only used in the whole Book two times! Elsewhere it is this title, “son of man.” By the way, when Jesus came to earth (the first time) He chose that very title for Himself! He used it of Himself a lot more than “Son of God!” Though He was (still is) both. (This truth probably makes Ezekiel a “type” of Christ in some number of ways. At least one could assume Ezekiel was one of Jesus’ favorite Bible characters … “son of man!”)
The chapter ends with a “roll,” a “book” being presented. One which Ezekiel was to “eat.” (Internalizing God’s Word, God’s Words!) Likely a scroll (made of papyrus perhaps), the unfurled document would have had on its outside a few words, like a Book’s “title” nowadays. This one did.
“And when I looked, behold, an hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein; and he spread it before me; and it was written within and without: and there was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe.” Ezekiel 2:9-10, note the Book’s “key words,” its very “table of contents” … “lamentations, mourning and woe!” Again, written on the outside cover, likely!
And these three words summarize much of Ezekiel’s ministry, his preaching. Though, like all the Prophets, he too foretells of a future bright day for Israel, after so much darkness.
The Lord willing, next Lesson we shall look into chapter 3.
God’s Word, how exciting.
It “teaches” even as it “tells” it stories!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell