There is a threefold challenge laid out in Ezekiel 3—know, believe, and preach, that we should embrace this year,
Ezekiel chapter 3 recounts God’s further commissioning of the prophet Ezekiel to deliver a difficult message to the rebellious Israelites in exile. God tells Ezekiel to eat the scroll, symbolizing that he must internalize the message before he ever delivers it. The message tastes sweet, even though it contains lamentations and hard truths. That immediately reminds me of something from my own journey.
When I was called to preach the gospel at twelve years old, my pastor told me that if I was going to preach the Word, then I had to know the Word. He instructed me to read through the entire Bible. So as a twelve- or thirteen-year-old kid, I read the Bible from cover to cover in the King James Version. That was tough. But it formed something in me. Even today, I read through the Bible every year. Pastors, teachers, leaders, if we are going to preach the Word, we must first know the Word. We cannot give what we have not personally taken in. Ezekiel had to eat the scroll. We have to eat the Scriptures.
God then tells Ezekiel that he is being sent to a stubborn, rebellious, and obstinate people. Nothing has changed. We are ministering to a generation that does not always want to know what God has to say. His truths confront what people think, feel, and believe, and often run counter to the way they want to live. That is why the call to preach today requires conviction, courage, and clarity.
The chapter also emphasizes Ezekiel’s responsibility as a watchman. God tells him plainly that if he refuses to warn the people, he will be held accountable for their blood. But if he faithfully delivers the message, even if they refuse to listen, he will be blameless. Pastors, that warning is for us as well. We are responsible for telling the people what God’s Word says. We will be held accountable if we do not.
So here is the challenge from Ezekiel 3.
- We must know God’s Word.
- We must believe God’s Word.
- We must preach God’s Word.
We cannot change our theology or soften our doctrine simply because culture has embraced rebellion and sinful lifestyles. God did not call us to adjust His message. He called us to declare it.
May we be faithful watchmen in a stubborn generation, and may God make our foreheads like flint so we can stand strong, speak boldly, and honor Him in all we say and do.
Word…
Alex
Alex Bryant is a pastor, author, and speaker who writes about race, faith, and culture in America.
