"I’ll Make Your Face As Hard As Rock"

The granite formations of the Canadian Shield are often quite interesting. There is a rock on our property that looks a lot like a chiseled character face. It speaks to me of determination, of not being intimidated by challenges, of unflinching pursuit of a God-given mission despite strong opposition. And it reminds me of a passage in Ezekiel 3 (verses 1-11), where God says the following to the prophet:

3 He told me, “Son of man, eat what you see. Eat this book. Then go and speak to the family of Israel.”

2-3 As I opened my mouth, he gave me the scroll to eat, saying, “Son of man, eat this book that I am giving you. Make a full meal of it!”

So I ate it. It tasted so good—just like honey.

4-6 Then he told me, “Son of man, go to the family of Israel and speak my Message. Look, I’m not sending you to a people who speak a hard-to-learn language with words you can hardly pronounce. If I had sent you to such people, their ears would have perked up and they would have listened immediately.

7-9 “But it won’t work that way with the family of Israel. They won’t listen to you because they won’t listen to me. They are, as I said, a hard case, hardened in their sin. But I’ll make you as hard in your way as they are in theirs. I’ll make your face as hard as rock, harder than granite. Don’t let them intimidate you. Don’t be afraid of them, even though they’re a bunch of rebels.”

10-11 Then he said, “Son of man, get all these words that I’m giving you inside you. Listen to them obediently. Make them your own. And now go. Go to the exiles, your people, and speak. Tell them, ‘This is the Message of God, the Master.’ Speak your piece, whether they listen or not.” (Ez.3:1-11 MSG)

This is the prophetic commission every pastor has been given. And while the intake of God’s word is sweet as honey and nourishing to our soul, there is also the fact that many of God’s people will not listen to it and will be severely opposed to the one bringing the message. The personal attacks against the messenger are often mean, hurtful, devastating, and draining, but what’s even more of a concern for the messenger is that the people of God, won’t listen to God, reject God Himself and rebel openly against His lordship. This is more than just a difference of opinion, these people jeopardize an intimate relationship with God and even their eternal destiny. 

Obviously this affects those who are entrusted with the soul-care of God’s people. They wonder whether they have been too harsh, failed in the teaching of the truth, not cared enough for the individual, not offered the necessary help and support, etc. They second guess their calling, wondering whether they are really cut out for this task. They are dismayed by the lack of results, lack of success, and lack of response. They are intimidated by the backlash. They even wander away from God themselves. And many have nervous breakdowns, suffer from depression, or quit the ministry altogether. 

What are God’s instructions in a case like this?

It’s all about listening obediently to God’s word, about eating it, ingesting the truth, being nourished by it, getting it inside of us and making it our own. Not doing that was the failure of the people of God. The prophet of God should never make the same mistake. Rather: by listening to God and doing His will, in spite of opposition even from God’s people, and in spite of not achieving a positive response, God will make our face as hard as rock, so we can withstand the fiercest attacks and continue on our mission for Him.