God told Moses, “…I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go…” (Ex 3:19); but God sent Moses anyway. God was certain that “Pharoah will not heed you” (Ex 7:4), but Moses said it anyway.
God told Jeremiah, “They will fight against you…” (Je 1:19) and threaten to kill you (Je 11:21), but God sent him anyway. God’s prophets were, “…rising up early and speaking, but you have not listened” (Je 7:13, 25; 11:17; 25:3) and they would not listen to Jeremiah either (Je 7:27), but he said it anyway.
God told Isaiah that the people are “stubborn-hearted” (Is 46:12); they had “shut their eyes, so that they cannot see, and their hearts, so they cannot understand” (Is 44:18); and desired only “smooth things and deceits” (Is 30:10), but God sent Isaiah anyway. They “will not hear the law of the Lord” (Is 30:9), God warned; but Isaiah said it anyway.
God told Ezekiel that Israel had an “adulterous heart” (Ez 6:9), “the desire for their detestable things” (Ez 11:21), and “eyes to see but does not see, and ears to hear but does not hear” (Ez 12:2); but God sent him anyway. God knew, “…the house of Israel will not listen to you, because they will not listen to Me” (Ez 3:7), but Ezekiel said it anyway.
God told Hosea, “There is no truth or mercy or knowledge of God in the land” (Ho 4:1), and that Israel would not return even when God begged her to return, but God sent Hosea anyway. God sent Amos to people who were violent, covenant breakers, despisers of the law of the Lord, unjust, and idolaters. In Zechariah’s day, God said the people “did not hear nor heed Me” (Zech 1:4) and historically “would not listen” (7:13), but Zechariah said it anyway.
When you read the prophets, sinful people who are inclined to reject God’s message are usually the norm. But God still sent messengers to speak His Word. It’s no wonder that James wrote: “My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience” (Ja 5:10). But James is calling us to follow the example of the prophets’ patience among our own sinful people who are inclined to reject God’s message. We must go to them anyway and say it to them anyway.
Admittedly, it’s discouraging and there is a temptation to give up—to not go, to not say it —or at the very least look for whiter harvests. But Jesus expects that we go and that we say it, everywhere! Jesus came, knowing He would be rejected by His own (Jn 1:11; Mk 6). He preached to an “evil and adulterous generation” (Mt 12:39) who He knew wouldn’t listen (Mt 13:15). We follow Him even though we know Jesus said, “A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.” (Jn 15:20). Go anyway. Say it anyway.
“Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Matthew 5:12
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