Naked and Barefoot

"Then the Lord said, "As my servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot for three years as a sign and a portent against Egypt and Cush so shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptian captives and the Cushite exiles, both the young and old, naked and barefoot, with buttocks uncovered, the nakedness of Egypt." Is. 20:3-4

How difficult was this for Isaiah? Sometimes God called the prophets to act out their messages with bizarre behavior. It was as it the prophet's life was an object lesson to people whose hearts were hard and rebellious. Perhaps the hardness of their hearts could not be impacted by words anymore. Now they needed pictures, especially pictures that came true before their eyes.

Similarly, Jeremiah bought and hid the linen loincloth until it was spoiled and no good for anything. Then the Lord said that He would in turn spoil the pride of Jerusalem and Judah. "For as the loincloth clings to the waist of a man, so I made the whole house of Israel and whole house of Judah cling to me, declares the Lord, that they might be for me a people, a name, a praise, and a glory, but they would not listen." Jer. 13:11 Later Jeremiah bought a earthenware flask. After giving his message of doom, he was to break the potter's vessels so that it could never be mended. "So I will break this people and this city, as one breaks a potter's vessel, so that it can never  be mended."

Then Ezekiel was told to eat the scroll. "Son of man, feed your belly with this scroll that I give you and fill your stomach with it." He did eat and it was sweet as honey. Then later as he went into his house, he was bound with cords and his tongue was stuck to the roof of his mouth leaving him mute and unable to admonish because of Israel's great rebellion. If Ezekiel was to speak, God would open his mouth. This was only the beginning for Ezekiel. God used him repeatedly to illustrate the spiritual condition of Israel.

No matter the reason, I am thinking the calling of prophet would be extremely difficult not just because of the task itself but because of the response to the task by the people involved. Serving God certainly calls for explicit obedience!

Father,
Help me to obey explicitly, never questioning. Give me the strength to speak your message even to people who are bent on rejecting You.
In Jesus name,
Amen