The call of Ezekiel reveals that God never uses us without first preparing us. Before the prophet ever spoke a word to the exiles, the Lord shaped him, strengthened him, and filled him. And in this shaping, we see the same pattern God uses with us.
Ezekiel begins his encounter lying prostrate, overwhelmed by the glory of God. Yet the Lord says, “Son of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak to you.” God calls him to attention—to readiness, alertness, responsiveness. The Lord still calls us this way. God calls us to stand at attention. In seasons of uncertainty, God’s first work in us is often simply to awaken us, to bring us to our feet, to call us to spiritual alertness.
But God does more than command Ezekiel to stand. Scripture says, “the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet.” What God commands, God empowers. The Spirit lifts Ezekiel, strengthens him, and equips him. We cannot stand in our own strength. We cannot serve in our own wisdom. We cannot endure in our own resolve. The Spirit must raise us, steady us, and fill us. And He does. He regenerates, seals, indwells, and infills—giving us power for every assignment and grace for every burden.
Finally, God places proclamation before Ezekiel and says, “Eat this scroll.” Ezekiel eats it, and it becomes part of him—sweet, sustaining, transforming. God’s Word is not meant to be skimmed, admired, or merely quoted. It is meant to be consumed. When God’s Word enters our hearts, it shapes our desires, strengthens our convictions, and steadies our steps. It becomes life to us—comfort in sorrow, courage in weakness, hope in despair.
If we desire to be usable to God, we must follow Ezekiel’s path: stand at attention, yield to the Spirit’s power, and feast on the Word until it becomes part of us. God prepares us before He sends us, and when He prepares us, He makes us ready for anything the times may bring.
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