Can’t Blame ME For Your Poor Choices…

Both Ezekiel and Jeremiah were told by God to speak His messages to the people. Both of these prophets knew the people wouldn’t listen. God, Himself knew they wouldn’t listen. So why would God require them to be told. It seems a little odd; a waste of time, doesn’t it? God gives us two reasons. First, He tells Both of them if they don’t tell them then their blood with be on their own hands. Second, He tells Ezekiel the reason is for the people to know there was a prophet among them, i.e. God provided communication even in their rebellion. So what point am I trying to make? God works in mysterious ways. Sometimes those ways involve warning before, during, and after a rebellion. It’s as if He says, “I’ll warn you all throughout your rebellion, so that when you finally come to your senses, you can’t blame Me for your poor choices”. God is always there for us, even when we stray. The consequences come, we blame Him, we suffer, the suffering produces repentance, our eyes are opened, we see God in it, we learn our lesson, and we grow closer to Him and deepen our faith. God sends the prophets to warn, to show He’s concerned, to prove His love, and to give us evidence of His presence. It also shows us that our duty as believers is to speak truth in all circumstances and point people towards God. We can’t change people, only God can change a broken and corrupt heart. Our duty is to be the messenger, to warn, and thus be evidence of the prophet among us. To get the blood (guilt) off of our hands. Obedience to God is faithfully presenting His truth to a lost world. It’s not saving them. That’s God’s Job. Never grow weary of doing good, for in due time, your faithfulness will be rewarded, even if we don’t see the clear picture of “why” we try when things seem wasteful. God is in control, we have to trust that He knows what He’s doing.

5 And whether they listen or refuse to listen–for remember, they are rebels–at least they will know they have had a prophet among them.6 “Son of man, do not fear them or their words. Don’t be afraid even though their threats surround you like nettles and briers and stinging scorpions. Do not be dismayed by their dark scowls, even though they are rebels. 7 You must give them My messages whether they listen or not. But they won’t listen, for they are completely rebellious! 8 Son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not join them in their rebellion. Open your mouth, and eat what I give you.” Ezekiel 2:5-8

17 “Son of man, I have appointed you as a watchman for Israel. Whenever you receive a message from Me, warn people immediately. 18 If I warn the wicked, saying, ‘You are under the penalty of death,’ but you fail to deliver the warning, they will die in their sins. And I will hold you responsible for their deaths. 19 If you warn them and they refuse to repent and keep on sinning, they will die in their sins. But you will have saved yourself because you obeyed Me.20 “If righteous people turn away from their righteous behavior and ignore the obstacles I put in their way, they will die. And if you do not warn them, they will die in their sins. None of their righteous acts will be remembered, and I will hold you responsible for their deaths. 21 But if you warn righteous people not to sin and they listen to you and do not sin, they will live, and you will have saved yourself, too.” Ezekiel 3:17-21