Ezekiel 2 & 3 -- Commanded And Enabled

As I read this morning, it seemed that God kept bringing to mind something I’ve read many times in my commentary:  “God’s commands are His enablements.”  In other words, when God commands us to do something, at the same time He grants us grace to get it done.  For instance, He told Ezekiel to stand up on his feet (Ezekiel was bowing before the presence and glory of God).  Then Ezekiel said, “While He spoke to me, the Spirit entered me and put me on my feet.”

God ordered him to speak His words to the Israelites and even warned that they’d be stubborn.  He gave Ezekiel confidence by saying, “But they will know that a prophet has been among them,” and three times He tells Ezekiel not to be afraid.”

God also assured Ezekiel that there would be many who would not listen because of their stubbornness.  Then God once again commands and enables Ezekiel by changing his personality.  “I now make you as stubborn and hard as they are.  I am making you as hard as a diamond, harder than stone.” 

The first thing Ezekiel had to do was buy into the message he was to deliver.  God said, “Human, believe all the words I will speak to you …”  Once again, His commands are His enablements, and Ezekiel believed.

After being empowered by God, Ezekiel was “unhappy and angry.”  That’s because he agreed with God about the condition of the people, and he now possessed the hardness of a diamond which enabled him to possess the stubbornness to want to see them change their lives despite the unpopular nature of the message.

God warned him of his own blood-guiltiness if he failed to deliver the message.  Once the people heard, then his part was done and they would be the guilty ones.  I also noticed a clear reminder that works do not save.  In 3:20, God says, “They will die because of their SIN, and the good they did will not be remembered.”

My commentary also noted in the last part of chapter 3 that Ezekiel was prevented by God from talking for awhile and this serves to show us that we aren’t to cram the Gospel down the throats of everyone, but instead to those God directs.

Father, I believe that a little of the stubbornness – that diamond-like quality You describe – is what all believers need to enable us to persevere until we break through the tough crust that sin forms around the souls of those who’ve practiced sin for years.  Please enable me to not be shy in speaking to those You direct me to, and to have that diamond-hardness of caring where they spend eternity.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford