Ezekiel and the Preaching of the Gospel

In the second chapter of Ezekiel, we have God's commissioning of the prophet to Israel in exile in Babylon. God's plan is not like men's plans for today's evangelistic crusades: "Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to nations of rebels, who have rebelled against Me. They and their fathers have transgressed against Me to this very day. The descendants also are impudent and stubborn; I send you to them, and you shall say to them, 'Thus says the Lord God.' And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house), they shall know that a prophet has been among them" (Ezekiel 2:3-5).  Ezekiel's commission is not to someone that God has prepared to hear his message. He warns His messenger that his audience is rebellious. Yet that is his calling. On the other hand, God does promise Ezekiel one thing, that Israel will know that a prophet of God was among them. 

We see this with the best of today's street preachers. If they speak the word of God, they get a response. Whether it is hecklers (or worse) or converts, often both, men know that there has been a preacher among them. Does this make the hearts of such preachers hesitate to continue their work? Of course it does! And God addresses that fear. 

"You, son of man, be not afraid of them, nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions. Be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house. And you shall speak My words to them, whether they hear or refuse to hear, for they are a rebellious house" (Ezekiel 2:6-7). Does God deny that Ezekiel's audience will be a rough crowd? Not at all. On the contrary, He explicitly warns the prophet of their negativity. Yet He does not, as a result, let him off the hook. Rather, He redoubles the command to preach the word, regardless of the response of his audience. 

"Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from My mouth, you shall give them warning from Me. If I say to the wicked, 'You shall surely die,' and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand" (Ezekiel 3:17-18). Notice that God doesn't make Ezekiel responsible for the response of his audience. On the contrary, Ezekiel's responsibility is to deliver the message. There will be no judgment of the messenger for the response to the message, but there will be severe judgment for failing to obey. Yet God's mercy is evident, even in the midst of His warnings. "But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his wicked way, he shall die for his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul" (Ezekiel 3:19).