God calls His people to fulfill certain role in the historical times for the community or nation, or the world. The context, call, task, and God’s message are integrated in the life of His saints and servants. Prophet Ezekiel had a unique call, mission, and a strange audience. “But the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, for they are not willing to listen to me: because all the house of Israel have a hard forehead and a stubborn heart. Behold, I have made your face as hard as their faces, and your forehead as hard as their foreheads.” (Ezekiel 3:7-8)
The audience: God chose Ezekiel to be His ambassador for the Nation of Israel. First, they will not listen to Ezekiel. Though the prophet Ezekiel has to declare the message, they will not be listening. Speaking to those who do not listen is a tough task. Second, the Nation of Israel were neither interested nor inclined to listen to God. Since they do not want to listen to God, they will not listen to the messenger/prophet sent by God. Third, the people have hard forehead. That means they are rebellious, stubborn, unyielding, and obstinate. Instead of a renewed mind, they had narrow, disobedient, and proud minds. Four, they had a stubborn heart. That means unwilling to surrender, yield, willful resistance and spiritual rebellion.
The messenger: If the audience is rebellious, unwilling to listen or learn, then the messenger also should be a tough person. So, God prepares Ezekiel for the difficult task of a mission to the rebellious house of Israel. First, Ezekiel will have a hard face, which is equal in intensity to that of the rebellious Israelite. God equipped Ezekiel with great resilience, steadfastness, stubborn zeal for the Lord, courage, and to be an uncompromising messenger. It is not natural hardness, but strength given by God. Second, God gave Ezekiel a hard forehead that was equal to that of the people’s hard foreheads. Ezekiel will be spontaneously obedient, diligent in mission, have a renewed mind knowing God’s will, and unwavering faith and loyalty to the Lord.
Am I equipped by the Lord to fulfil His call?