Ezekiel 3:11
“Go to them of the captivity, to the children of your people, and speak to them, and tell them, ‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh;’ whether they will hear, or whether they will refuse.”
What does Ezekiel 3:11 mean?
God is sending Ezekiel to speak his message to the exiled Israelites, whether they're ready to listen or not. This is a commission that comes with honesty built in: Ezekiel is told upfront that his audience might reject what he says, but that doesn't change his responsibility to deliver it faithfully. The phrase "whether they will hear, or whether they will refuse" isn't meant to discourage him, but to free him from the burden of controlling whether people respond. His job is to speak truth; their choice to accept or reject it belongs to them. It's a reminder that sometimes our calling is simply to show up and be faithful, even when we can't guarantee the outcome we'd hope for.