The prophet Ezekiel is told, “I am sending you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD.’ Whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house), they shall know that there has been a prophet among them.” And if we were to continue reading, we would find that repeatedly the Lord GOD tells Ezekiel to speak to the people in the midst of their rebellion, but to not be afraid. And then God says, “Surely if I sent you to them, they would listen, but…the house of Israel will not listen to you, for they are not willing to listen to me…”
I picture Ezekiel knowing that the people are on a path of destruction. He knows the expectations of the Lord GOD. He knows the mandate of taking care of the widow, the poor, the orphan, the alien, the outcast…Ezekiel knows what God expects of God’s people: radical egalitarianism and Ezekiel knows the people are not upholding this expectation. Ezekiel is an interesting prophet though, because its like he knows that God will send the prophet to speak and if the people do not listen, do not repent, then God will remove God’s self from the people. Ezekiel seems to believe that God will become absent, missing from the life of the community if the community does not take heed.
“But if you warn the wicked, and they do not turn from their wickedness…they shall die for their inquity.” Isn’t the abscence of God’s spirit from our lives a feeling of death?
The gospel tells us of Jesus sending the disciples, but if the “town won’t welcome you then shake the dust off your feet” and move on.
Sometimes we need to say what needs to be said and let God do the rest.
I would agree whole heartedly with your last statement- we ahve a daughter who is in the arts field of life–flys through life by the seat of her pants actually, always has , always will- very hard for me to deal with sometimes. I have prayed hard, very hard actually to have the wisdom to stop trying to interfere in her life to change it in the way I seem to think is the correct version. My prayer — Lord give me the wisdom to let life come to her. I’m trying, that’s all I can say. I may even be succeeding a little bit.
I think of the term “to love loosely” as I read your comment. Sometimes loving loosely is the wisest and yet most difficult task as parents. I know it has brought me challenge.
Thanks for your comment and blessings to you.