Suppose you have a friend, relative, or neighbor who has made a lot of foolish mistakes in the past. He or she has paid a heavy price for these mistakes, but for some reason the lesson just hasn’t sunk in yet. Now this person is on the verge of making another big mistake. Should you warn him or her? Ezekiel is in this kind of position. Despite repeated warnings of punishment from several prophets, the Jews refused to listen and kept on sinning. As a result, God let the Babylonians destroy Israel and take the Jews into captivity. Apparently the Israelites didn’t learn their lesson, however, and they continued to sin in Babylon. So God appointed Ezekiel to bring his message to the Jews there. God also told Ezekiel if he didn’t give the Jews his message, he, too, would pay for their sins.
Ezekiel was bitter and angry at God’s people (Ezekiel 3:14-15), and understandably so. Ezekiel had no guarantee that they would listen to him either (3:11). Still Ezekiel delivered the messages God gave him and sacrificed his own comforts to communicate God’s warnings. You may feel like Ezekiel when Christian brothers or sisters scorn God’s Word. But don’t be discouraged. If Christian friends have strayed from God, speak up, even if they aren’t listening, and even if it seems unlikely that they will take your advice.