The all in, wholehearted prophet
Every day we're reading or listening to part of the Bible together and sharing thoughts with you. Today it’s Bern Leckie:
What did I like about today’s passage?
Yesterday, in Luke 21-22, we looked at what it means to give everything we have and go all in, wholeheartedly with God. Ezekiel strikes me as the sort of prophet God knew was all in and ready to do things that, let’s say, you or I might think twice about.
His visions are some of the strangest things in the whole Bible. His clarity of detail on heavenly machinery makes me wonder if Ezekiel might have been some sort of multi-gifted genius of art and engineering like Leonardo da Vinci. Combine that with wholehearted dedication and obedience to God and we can expect the Spirit to draw incredible things through his life. So, what would God use him for?
It’s a critical time for Israel. They have suffered the disgraceful fall into exile from their promised home with God. The short couple of years that most prophets said to wait before expecting restoration had passed. Maybe Jeremiah was right, then. Could it really be generations before life would go back to normal? Why wouldn’t God fix this sooner?
Ezekiel’s message - that people were still rebellious, hardened, obstinate, unwilling to listen to prophets because they were unwilling to listen to God – would not be feel-good, popular and easy to believe. So Ezekiel looks to me like a special measure from God, someone whose obedient dedication would both grab attention and make people wonder: is he for real?
I notice how Ezekiel was strengthened by eating God’s words, just as we are by remembering Jesus’ wholehearted giving of himself through communion. God has an involving, multi-sensory experience to share through Ezekiel too. He has to rely on God completely for any of this to work. People would soon find their attention grabbed more by their own hunger and need for help from God, but in Ezekiel they would find an authentic, wholehearted messenger showing what had gone wrong, what they needed next and how to turn back to God.
What did it show me about Father God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit?
Whatever limits we think there are on what God can do, we had better forget them. With people who are open to him and willing to dedicate themselves to wholehearted response, God reveals aspects of his character and ability which are simply mind blowing. But God's purpose in doing this is for people to engage with him, listen and change where necessary.
What am I going to do differently as a result?
This reminds me of a need to be wholeheartedly committed to God, and also of the power in showing, rather than telling. Sometimes I'm happiest to talk about God rather than show people what this means in my life or, much better, let God show what he can do directly - this requires a big leap of faith.
So I am going to pray for opportunities to show people more of what God is about, and entrust more of my life with him as a necessary response.
Who am I going to share this with?
People I follow Jesus with and, hopefully, people God draws me into sharing with too!