OBSTINATE

 

Write From My Heart

September 10, 2021

OBSTINATE  unreasonably determined to have one’s own way; stubborn

Ezekiel 2:4-7 (NIV) “The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says.’ And whether they listen or fail to listen—for they are a rebellious house—they will know that a prophet has been among them. And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious house. You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious.”

Ezekiel 3:4-11 (NIV) He then said to me: “Son of man, go now to the house of Israel and speak my words to them. You are not being sent to a people of obscure speech and difficult language, but to the house of Israel—not to many peoples of obscure speech and difficult language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely if I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you. But the house of Israel is not willing to listen to you because they are not willing to listen to me, for the whole house of Israel is hardened and obstinate. But I will make you as unyielding and hardened as they are. I will make your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint. Do not be afraid of them or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious house.” And he said to me, “Son of man, listen carefully and take to heart all the words I speak to you. Go now to your countrymen in exile and speak to them. Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says,’ whether they will listen or fail to listen.”

            Rarely do I use a lengthy passage as the foundation for a devotional. Oddly enough when I check the stats for the number of “views” for Write From My Heart (and from time to time, I do); it appears the shorter devotions receive the greater number of views. We are in too much of a hurry these days. We don’t have time in our busy schedules to read anything more than a few short blurbs. Unfortunately this seems to reflect the nature of Christians who are becoming illiterate in the word of God. We seek all kinds of experiences, revelations, and miracles—yet we seldom seek the Bible. True spiritual power comes through study, searching, and application of Biblical principles. This takes time and effort. Sadly we are conditioned by society to seek immediate gratification, immediate solutions, instant answers, and instant Christian maturity. There is a great interest in the “quick fix.” We see so often those who must have some exciting spiritual experience as proof of their maturity and faith, yet they become and remain biblical illiterates learning their theology from television or someone else, not from the scriptures. Sadly, the vast majority of readers have now reached their patience threshold and are clicking on to other things. But if you have a moment more, let’s look at what we can learn from today’s text.

            First of all, God sent Ezekiel back to his own people. He wasn’t called to a foreign mission field or told to learn a new language before he could be useful to God. He was, himself, exiled to Babylon and was being returned to his own native land. He was also told not to hold high expectations for results because his own nation had become stubborn—unreasonably determined to have their own way. Yet Ezekiel was also told not to be afraid nor terrified at the insults and abuse he would most certainly receive from this people with hard attitudes, an unflinching and unrelenting people, who were committed to their sinful way of life. These people liked things the way they were and would most certainly not be thrilled with Ezekiel’s message to seek repentance. Nevertheless, Ezekiel was to confront people about their sin, give them one last chance to repent, and offer hope whether they listened or not. God promised Ezekiel that he would make Ezekiel just as strong and unyielding in his faith. In other words, God would provide the strength Ezekiel would need to complete the task.

            This is our message today. Most of us will never be sent to foreign lands as missionaries. Most of us will never have to learn a foreign language to communicate God’s message. But we are all sent to spread God’s message to those in our own families, coffee circles, neighborhoods, and communities. Perhaps, as Ezekiel was told, it would be easier to go to some other place because those people would listen. Be observant because many times God does not send us out but sends other people into our families and circles through various means and circumstances we might not expect. The command remains the same to us as in Ezekiel’s day: we are to spread God’s message to our own family and friends—whether they listen or not—not only a message of conviction, but of a loving Savior and blessed hope to come.