Ezekiel 2

Suppose that the Lord were to say the following to me:

Attention, Rhoda!  Come forward here and stand straight and tall because I have a very special job assignment for you!  

OK, here it is:  Your job for the rest of your life will be the completely thankless task of telling all your friends that all the terrible things that they have experienced so far in their lives - warfare, defeat, captivity, a death march across the desert, the destruction of their nation and its culture and worship - have not been enough to appease God.   They are still rebellious and have stubbornly resisted repenting.

And, by the way, I should tell you that they probably will not listen to you, but will beat you and find ways to torture you.
As for you, Rhoda, don't you be rebellious like them!  But do as I tell you even though I know they will not change.

Wouldn't that be everybody's idea of a great job opportunity? If this had been God's assignment for me, I think I would have been tempted to say, "No thanks, find someone else for this assignment." But God did not ask Ezekiel if he was willing to take this assignment. He just gave it to him and expected Ezekiel to obey.

I looked specifically to see how many times God used the word rebellious and found it used 7 times in verses 3-8, which are the verses that contain God's job description for Ezekiel. Two Hebrew words are used, but apparently from what I can learn, these are basically just two forms of the same word, Marad, which means to rebel or revolt. In addition, God used the words transgressed, stubborn, and obstinate to describe them. In the midst of this, He warns Ezekiel not to be afraid of these stubborn, obstinate, rebellious, rebelling, transgressing people.

What can I learn from this that is relevant for me as I am trying to determine what God wants for Ed and me from here?
1)God's plan is not designed for my private pleasure
2)God's plan is just that - His plan - not my plan, not others' plans for me.
3)My success in carrying out His plan is not based on results but on obedience.
4)I can miss His plan if I rebel.

Lord, help me choose to obey and submit to whatever Your plan is for us.