(a) Explain how Ezekiel was commissioned as a prophet (b) Identify two lessons that can be derived from his experiences.

(a) How Ezekiel was commissioned as a prophet (Ezekiel 1-3).

1. While Ezekiel was among the exiles by the river Chebar in the land of the Chaldeans, the heavens were opened and he saw visions of God.
2. He saw a stormy wind coming out of the north, a great cloud with brightness around it and fire flashing forth, and out of its midst the likeness of four living creatures, each having four faces and four wings, with the faces of a man, a lion, an ox and an eagle.
3. Beside the living creatures he saw wheels within wheels, whose rims were full of eyes, and the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.
4. Above the creatures was the likeness of a firmament, and above it the likeness of a throne, and on it a likeness with the appearance of a man, surrounded by brightness like a rainbow. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. When Ezekiel saw it, he fell on his face.
5. Then he heard a voice speaking. God addressed him as "Son of man" and told him to stand on his feet, and the Spirit entered him and set him on his feet.
6. God sent him to the people of Israel, a rebellious nation that had rebelled against Him, an impudent and stubborn people, and told him to say to them, "Thus says the Lord God," whether they heard or refused to hear.
7. God told him not to be afraid of them or of their words, though briers, thorns and scorpions were around him, and not to be dismayed at their looks.
8. He was given a scroll written on the front and the back with words of lamentation, mourning and woe, and was commanded to eat it. When he ate it, it was in his mouth as sweet as honey.
9. God then sent him to the house of Israel to speak His words, and warned him that he had been made a watchman for the house of Israel: if he failed to warn the wicked, their blood would be required at his hand, but if he warned them, he would deliver his own soul.
10. The Spirit lifted him up and took him to the exiles at Tel-abib, where he sat overwhelmed among them for seven days.

(b) Two lessons that can be derived from his experiences.

1. A servant of God must be courageous and faithful in delivering God's message even to a hostile and rebellious audience.
2. God equips those He calls: the Spirit strengthened Ezekiel and God gave him the words to speak.
3. Ministers of God bear responsibility as watchmen to warn people of danger, and are accountable for faithfully passing on God's message.