I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Ezekiel 1-4.

I wish I had the artistic talent to draw the image Ezekiel describes here at the beginning of his book.  In fact, I think it would be enlightening if someone were to draw each of the visions Ezekiel had throughout this book (and many of the other apocalyptic visions in other parts of the Bible as well).  I suspect that we would learn both from seeing what Ezekiel described and from seeing the differences between those descriptions.

From this amazing spectacle a voice spoke to Ezekiel and a Spirit took control of his body.  I had actually never noticed the second part of that before today.  When Ezekiel saw his vision, he threw himself face down on the ground.  Then he tells us that the Spirit which spoke to him out of the vision came into him and set him on his feet.  I am not sure how I overlooked this, nor why I never heard someone teach on the importance of it.  Much like Saul/Paul, Ezekiel was not exactly given a choice in the ministry he undertook.  Of course, both Saul/Paul and Ezekiel sought fervently to do God’s will.  But once they were called, neither felt like they had a choice in the matter.

Ezekiel was not sent to a foreign people on God’s behalf.  In fact, God tells Ezekiel that that would be an easier mission.  When God sends you to your own people you will struggle to overcome the fact that they think they know what you have to say without actually listening to what you say.  People in the United States think they know what the Christian Gospel is, but they are almost always wrong.  Even many of those who consider themselves Christian fail to listen to God’s words.  Here comes the most important part of God’s commission to Ezekiel.  Before speaking God’s words to others, Ezekiel must listen to, and act according to, those words.  We must hold ourselves to the standard to which God calls us to hold others.