Word In Life Study Bible
DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES OF CALLING
Ezek.2:1-5
For some, like Ezekiel, calling has also occurred through an incident in which God has spoken to the person with a commission to be a prophet or leader (Ezek. 2:1–5; see “A Dramatic Career Change” at Is. 6:8–9). For most, however, God’s call has been much less dramatic, but no less significant. It affects everything about a person’s life—career, family, identity, faith, relationships, and even one’s outlook for the future.
The accompanying table lists some of the people in the Bible who were called by God, and what happened when they responded to His call. Notice the wide variety of people, and the different implications of their calling. Yet in each case, the same God was calling them to ultimately the same purpose—to devote themselves to Him.
| Person | Occupation at the Time of God’s Calling | Results of God’s Call |
| Abraham | Unknown | Left his homeland and relocated to Canaan by way of Haran (Gen. 11:31–12:4; Acts 7:2–5). |
| Isaac | Wealthy owner of livestock | Remained in the land of Canaan, where he carried on his father’s faith and work (Gen. 26:2–6). |
| Jacob | Wealthy owner of livestock | Lived with the hope that the God of his father and grandfather would bring him back in peace to the land of Canaan (Gen. 28:12–29:1; 33:18–20). |
| Moses | Adopted son of the royal family of Egypt; sheepherder in Midian | Became the liberator and leader of the Israelites (Ex. 3:1–12; 5:1). |
| Nehemiah | Cupbearer to the Persian king Artaxerxes I (see Neh. 1:11) | Negotiated with the king to lead a group of Jews back to Jerusalem to rebuild the city, particularly its walls (Neh. 1:1–2:10). |
| Esther | Wife of King Ahasuerus of Persia | Intervened to save the lives of her people, the Jews, from a genocidal plot (Esth. 4:1–6:10). |
| Ezekiel | Priest | Became a prophet, speaking God’s message to the Jewish exiles in Babylon (Ezek. 2:1–5). |
| Daniel | A youth deported to Babylon | Became an advisor to kings, and a prophet (Dan. 1:19; 7:1) |
| Jonah | Unknown | After initially running from the Lord, went to Nineveh and warned of God’s judgment, resulting in citywide repentance (Jon. 1:1–3; 3:1–10). |
| Rich Young Ruler | Member of Israel’s upper class | Turned away from the Lord because he could not bring himself to part with his possessions (Matt. 19:16–21). |
| Barnabas | Unknown | Served as a friend and mentor to young believers, including Saul (Acts 9:26–27; 11:25–26 and John Mark (15:36–39). |
| Saul | Tentmaker; Pharisee leading anti-Christian activities | Became God’s principal spokesman during the later part of the first century a. d. (Acts 9:15). |
| Believers in General | Varied | Brought to salvation through faith in Christ; a transformed lifestyle (Rom. 1:6–7; 8:28–30; 12:1–2). |
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