…A Rebellious People
The concepts of human rebellion and the importance of heeding GOD's Word(s) are recurring themes throughout the Bible.
Have you ever been a mouthpiece of the Mighty One? You know…. When He opens your mouth and STUFF comes out. When He is done speaking, you walk away wondering, “What just happened?” Imagine being a prophet of the Most High. El Elyon had a few people (obedient men) who did not mince words and often died on behalf of those very Words.
GOD opened Ezekiel’s mouth and many phrases and words of symbolism rolled out. Several of those words came to fruition by the actions ELYON had Ezekiel to do and experience himself. What a life!
The LORD exercised control over the speech of Ezekiel. The Spirit of GOD would not allow him to speak on his own initiative; his tongue was bound until GOD loosened it.
I would like that we did this today. We have too many folks saying “GOD told me to say that or this.” …nothing happens. There is no power or authority coming from their lips or their lives.
NOTE: In Ezekiel 3:27 it says, “He that hears, let him hear; and he that forbeareth, let him forbear: for they are a rebellious house.” Ezekiel has been assigned, and GOD is beginning the process of ordering the prophet Ezekiel to speak to the people of Israel, whom GOD refers to as a "rebellious house".
NOTE: Ezekiel was to deliver GOD's Message whether or not the people listened. Their responsibility was to hear the Word of the LORD, and their refusal to do so made them rebellious.
NOTE: Similar themes appear elsewhere in Ezekiel, including references to a "rebellious house" and the people having "eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not".
NOTE: Ezekiel 12:25 also mentions the "rebellious house" in the context of GOD's Word being spoken and performed (and ignored).
NOTE: To get labeled this name/phrase, one (nation) would have to be consistently transgressing the ADONAI’s Words of Instructional Guidance.
NOTE: The application warns us all against spiritual complacency—having the capacities to perceive Truth but refusing to use them. “eyes to see but do not see, ears to hear but do not hear.”
NOTE: Yeshua frequently uses the phrase "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear" to emphasize the need for spiritual understanding and personal response to GOD's Message.
Let’s look into Isaiah’s call, in chapter 6… “8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!” 9 and He said, “Go, and tell this people: ‘Keep on listening, but do not understand; and keep on looking, but do not gain knowledge.’ 10 Make the hearts of this people insensitive, their ears dull, and their eyes blind, so that they will not see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and return and be healed.”
NOTE: Uh… Don’t you want them to turn around and follow? The answer is always “YES.” However, would you like someone to really mean what they are saying? Isaiah’s words were to get them to see where they actually are. Those words add drama to the mess they were already showing (living). This was serious. How they were living was enough to cause their own death. The Truth they hear and must be able to see on their own is what was desired. Until we realize we are sinning and hate it, we will not choose Him, our Hope, to liberate us from it.
Those who have been addicted to alcohol, sex, drugs, pornography and the like can attest to the same. It has to be “owned” before one can realize the need for help. Even then, that person must ask for it.
I like Isaiah’s next question. “How long shall I speak this?” The longer you, me, Israel and others reject GOD’s Ways, we become blind to GOD-like character, and the “ancient paths” He prepared for us to walk on.
Just like Ezekiel, Yeshua, Isaiah, John the Forerunner and Jeremiah, you and I have mouths that were designed for MORE than eating and swearing. We are to use it as an instrument. Some will play melodious notes and others will speak melodious words, on behalf of ADOONAI.
Ezekiel’s, Yeshua’s, Isaiah’s, John the Forerunner’s and Jeremiah’s mouths were used to utter the LORD’s authoritative Words. His speech on their lips was not human opinion but GOD’s Decrees.
Listening and hearing with the next intent to obey is expected to be the end goal. Is it not? Scripturally, “to hear” often means “to obey.” Thus, “let him hear” is more than auditory, it’s the response of our loving compliance.
…on the other hand, the rebellion we choose to ingratiate ourselves in, is nothing short of our refusal to follow Him. Rejection and denying are the words I would use, but some versions of Scripture employs “forbear.” It is what happened to Pharoah’s heart (choice) to be hardened. Every time we choose to harden our hearts to the Word of GOD, it sets us up for a long life of resisting GOD. That is what both Israel and Judah did. That is what Israel was doing, when Ezekiel was infused by GOD’s Words to say and likewise demonstrate.
Jeremiah 6 was a tough pill to swallow, but it was all-out disobedience and disillusionment.
16 This is what the Lord says: “Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, where the Good Way is, and walk in It.” Then you will find a resting place for your souls. Instead, they said, ‘We will not walk in It.’ 17 I set watchmen over you, saying, ‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’ But they said, ‘We will not listen.” 18Therefore hear, you nations, and know, you congregation, what is among them. 19 Hear, earth: behold, I am bringing disaster on this people, the fruit of their plans, because they have not listened to My Words, and as for My Law, they have rejected It also.
During the time of Jeremiah, Jerusalem was facing impending destruction. It was COMING! Why? It was because of deeeeeeeeeeep rooted corruption, false assurances of peace, and refusal to walk in GOD’s “ancient paths.”
How many of you can see the current corruption in “leadership”, unashamed sin and false worship? The Bible shows is that every level of “GOD’s reps” were tainted and missing the mark, from prophet to priest, all are described as greedy and deceitful.
The “leaders” cry “Peace, peace when there is no peace” this Bible tells us. Just like today, GOD warns against trusting in superficial peace, ignoring His call to repentance, and substituting ritual for genuine obedience. It shows a people unwilling to listen, leaders unwilling to speak His Truth, and a GOD refusing to let rebellion go unchecked.
Yet even in judgment, there is an invitation. There is still the call to “seek the ancient paths, and you will find rest for your souls.” They and we say, “NAH… We are good!”
Isaiah 55:3 says, “Incline your ear and come to Me. Listen, that you may live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, according to the faithful mercies shown to David.
Psalm 81:8 says, “Hear, My people, and I will admonish you; Israel, if you would listen to Me!
Matthew 13:9 says, “The one who has ears, let him hear.”
Matthew 13:43 says, “…then the righteous will shine forth like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. The one who has ears, let him hear.
Luke 14:35 says,” It is useless either for the soil or the manure pile, so it is thrown out. The one who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the people who gather in my name (kehillahs/churches)"