We have a calling, likely different from how this prophet received his

By Dean Collins

Everyone dreams. Sometimes people we know are in our dreams. Sometimes our dreams reflect odd or bizarre images or events. I had a dream just the other day where I was able to levitate into the air and move around buildings and trees and then land again. I have not tried to see if this is possible, and I don’t need your interpretations!

In the Scriptures, there are many people who had dreams and visions. Some of these gave instructions to prophets, priests, and kings. Sometimes the dreams and visions came true in the following days, months, or years; and other times the dreams and visions are yet to be seen by our eyes. The thin line between this side of eternity and the other side keeps us anticipating the glory we will behold when the veil is removed.

A tough calling

My Scripture reading today included the first three chapters of Ezekiel and the third chapter of Hebrews. I will confess that Ezekiel is not my favorite book of the Bible. Honestly, it may be in the bottom five. There are some encouraging and inspiring passages to be sure. And some of them involve dreams and visions. But Ezekiel’s calling was a tough one, and sometimes I get lost in the visions and discouraged by the warnings and the judgments he was told to deliver.

Ezekiel and Jeremiah had some overlap in their assignment from God. Jeremiah was older and warned Israel of their coming judgment and the impending captivity at the hands of the Babylonians. Ezekiel was the son of a priest, and his family had been taken to Babylon. It was there as a young man in his late 20s or early 30s that he received his call from God.

Ezekiel was sitting by a canal when he saw the heavens open and visions of God. I suspect some who listened to him later had similar thoughts as those who heard the apostles speak in tongues on the day of Pentecost. They wondered if Ezekiel had been in the temple wine closet a little too long.

God was very direct with Ezekiel: “Stand on your feet, and I will speak to you.” This must have been a bit overwhelming because the next thing we read is that the Spirit entered Ezekiel and set him on his feet. When we come into the presence of God, things might get a bit wobbly! God gave Ezekiel a picture of his glory, but it is interesting to note that Ezekiel’s descriptions were mostly about the chariot God rode. Ezekiel could not adequately describe the glory of God.

Ezekiel’s message was hard to hear because those in Babylon had hoped that the worst had already happened. Ezekiel told them the full destruction of Jerusalem and its temple was yet to come.

Our calling

We, like Ezekiel, have also been given a heavenly calling. The first few lines of Hebrews 3 make this clear. Our calling did not come with visions of chariots with wings and wheels, yet it is a calling that we are to obey. Hebrews tells us that our call is from Heaven, and we are charged to follow the steps of our High Priest and King, Jesus, in extending his kingdom here and now as we begin our journey in eternity. We often forget that God calls us to participate in his eternal purposes from now on and not just when we all get to Heaven.

We are called together as sons and daughters of the King to live out the kingdom of God now as it is in Heaven. And while we are all in this work together, God has gifted us differently and given us different assignments to fulfill. We don’t need to worry or fret over our assignment or compare who has the best, the easiest, or the hardest kingdom work. What we are to do is the same thing Ezekiel did, complete the assignment God gives us and trust him to provide, no matter how difficult the path may be.

Lord, we are thankful you have called us together to proclaim the good news and extend your kingdom both near and far. Sometimes our assignments seem hard to understand and even harder to do. Forgive us when we revert to thinking we are alone in these assignments. Give us faith to realize that you are with us and will see us through whatever you have called us to do. Our desire is not to bring glory to self but to let others see the glory of God at work around us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Your time with God’s Word
‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬, ‭4‬-‭5; 2:1-10; ‬ ‭‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬-‭6‬ ESV‬‬

Photo by Josh Hild on Unsplash
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