Have you ever faced overwhelming opposition or felt like the odds were stacked against you?
Ezekiel 38 reminds us of God’s absolute sovereignty, even in the midst of great challenges and threats.
Key Verse: “And you will come up against My people Israel like a cloud to cover the land. It will be in the latter days that I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may know Me, when I am hallowed in you, O Gog, before their eyes.” – Ezekiel 38:16 (NKJV)
(Summarized and continued after scripture)
Prophecy about Gog and Future Invasion of Israel
1And the word of the LORD came to me saying, 2“Son of man, set your face toward Gog of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him 3and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal. 4“I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them splendidly attired, a great company with buckler and shield, all of them wielding swords; 5Persia, Ethiopia and Put with them, all of them with shield and helmet; 6Gomer with all its troops; Beth-togarmah from the remote parts of the north with all its troops—many peoples with you.
7“Be prepared, and prepare yourself, you and all your companies that are assembled about you, and be a guard for them. 8“After many days you will be summoned; in the latter years you will come into the land that is restored from the sword, whose inhabitants have been gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel which had been a continual waste; but its people were brought out from the nations, and they are living securely, all of them. 9“You will go up, you will come like a storm; you will be like a cloud covering the land, you and all your troops, and many peoples with you.”
10‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “It will come about on that day, that thoughts will come into your mind and you will devise an evil plan, 11and you will say, ‘I will go up against the land of unwalled villages. I will go against those who are at rest, that live securely, all of them living without walls and having no bars or gates, 12to capture spoil and to seize plunder, to turn your hand against the waste places which are now inhabited, and against the people who are gathered from the nations, who have acquired cattle and goods, who live at the center of the world.’ 13“Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish with all its villages will say to you, ‘Have you come to capture spoil? Have you assembled your company to seize plunder, to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to capture great spoil?’”’
14“Therefore prophesy, son of man, and say to Gog, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “On that day when My people Israel are living securely, will you not know it? 15“You will come from your place out of the remote parts of the north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great assembly and a mighty army; 16and you will come up against My people Israel like a cloud to cover the land. It shall come about in the last days that I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may know Me when I am sanctified through you before their eyes, O Gog.”
17‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Are you the one of whom I spoke in former days through My servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those days for many years that I would bring you against them? 18“It will come about on that day, when Gog comes against the land of Israel,” declares the Lord GOD, “that My fury will mount up in My anger. 19“In My zeal and in My blazing wrath I declare that on that day there will surely be a great earthquake in the land of Israel. 20“The fish of the sea, the birds of the heavens, the beasts of the field, all the creeping things that creep on the earth, and all the men who are on the face of the earth will shake at My presence; the mountains also will be thrown down, the steep pathways will collapse and every wall will fall to the ground. 21“I will call for a sword against him on all My mountains,” declares the Lord GOD. “Every man’s sword will be against his brother. 22“With pestilence and with blood I will enter into judgment with him; and I will rain on him and on his troops, and on the many peoples who are with him, a torrential rain, with hailstones, fire and brimstone. 23“I will magnify Myself, sanctify Myself, and make Myself known in the sight of many nations; and they will know that I am the LORD.”’
Reflection on Ezekiel 38:
- The Gathering of Nations: Ezekiel’s vision reveals a powerful alliance of nations led by Gog, coming against Israel with overwhelming force (Ezekiel 38:1-9). This image of a massive army preparing to invade Israel symbolizes the significant threats and challenges God’s people may face in life.
- God’s Sovereign Plan: Despite the apparent power of the enemy, God declares that He is the one who will bring Gog against His land (Ezekiel 38:4, 16). This statement is a powerful reminder that nothing happens outside of God’s control. Even when opposition arises, God is sovereign and uses these situations to fulfill His purposes.
- God’s Judgment on the Nations: God assures that He will judge Gog and his allies with His fury and wrath (Ezekiel 38:18-23). The judgment includes earthquakes, pestilence, torrential rains, and hailstones—demonstrating God’s unparalleled power over nature and nations alike. This passage reassures us that God will ultimately bring justice and protect His people.
- Revelation of God’s Glory: Through these events, God will make His name known among the nations (Ezekiel 38:23). This reveals that God’s ultimate purpose is to be glorified and recognized as the one true God. The challenges and opposition we face can become opportunities for God’s glory to be revealed in our lives and the world around us.
- Faith in God’s Deliverance: The vision of Gog’s defeat is a powerful reminder to trust in God’s deliverance, even when circumstances seem dire. It encourages us to remain steadfast in our faith, knowing that God is in control and will bring about His purposes, no matter how strong the opposition may appear.
Summary Key Points:
- God’s Sovereignty: Even in the face of overwhelming opposition, we can trust that God is in control and has a sovereign plan.
- God’s Judgment and Protection: God will ultimately judge those who oppose His people, bringing justice and deliverance.
- Glorification of God: The challenges we face can serve as opportunities for God’s glory to be revealed to the world.
- Steadfast Faith: We are called to trust in God’s deliverance and remain steadfast in our faith, knowing that He will fulfill His purposes.
Application: Reflect on the challenges and opposition you may be facing in your life. Do you trust that God is in control, even in the midst of these difficulties? Remember that God’s sovereignty means that nothing happens outside of His will. Even when we face overwhelming odds, we can have confidence that God will protect and deliver us according to His purpose. Allow these challenges to deepen your faith and become opportunities to see God’s glory revealed in your life.
Closing Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your sovereign control over all things, even in the face of opposition and challenges. Help us to trust in Your deliverance and to remain steadfast in our faith, knowing that You are in control. May the difficulties we face become opportunities for Your glory to be revealed in our lives and in the world around us. Strengthen us to stand firm, confident in Your protection and justice. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.
John Golda
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