God Bless Israel

The turn in Ezekiel's prophesy seems to come in chapter 24 with the death of the prophet's wife. He symbolizes for the nation that their precious possession, the Temple, will be lost, and they would be unable to grieve in captivity to Babylon for fear of seeming seditious. Now, in chapter 25, the message from the Lord to the prophet is against those nations that scoffed, laughed at, or helped in the destruction of Judah and Jerusalem. 

Ezekiel 25:1–4 (ESV) The word of the LORD came to me: 2 “Son of man, set your face toward the Ammonites and prophesy against them. 3 Say to the Ammonites, Hear the word of the Lord GOD: Thus says the Lord GOD, Because you said, ‘Aha!’ over my sanctuary when it was profaned, and over the land of Israel when it was made desolate, and over the house of Judah when they went into exile, 4 therefore behold, I am handing you over to the people of the East for a possession, and they shall set their encampments among you and make their dwellings in your midst. They shall eat your fruit, and they shall drink your milk.

From the Ammonites, the prophet moves on to the nations of Moab and Seir, Edom, and the Philistines. As many peoples have throughout history, these nations made the faulty assumption that Israel was just like the other nations of the world: their end had come, and their god was dead. Notice how Ezekiel speaks to each nation in that regard. 

For Moab and Seir, they assumed Israel was ordinary. 

Ezekiel 25:8–9 (ESV) “Thus says the Lord GOD: Because Moab and Seir said, ‘Behold, the house of Judah is like all the other nations,’ 9 therefore I will lay open the flank of Moab from the cities, from its cities on its frontier, the glory of the country, Beth-jeshimoth, Baal-meon, and Kiriathaim.

Edom took things further, helping Israel's captors in taking them into exile. 

Ezekiel 25:12–13 (ESV) “Thus says the Lord GOD: Because Edom acted revengefully against the house of Judah and has grievously offended in taking vengeance on them, 13 therefore thus says the Lord GOD, I will stretch out my hand against Edom and cut off from it man and beast. And I will make it desolate; from Teman even to Dedan they shall fall by the sword.

The same went for Philistia, that ancient nemesis of Israel. 

Ezekiel 25:15–16 (ESV) “Thus says the Lord GOD: Because the Philistines acted revengefully and took vengeance with malice of soul to destroy in never-ending enmity, 16 therefore thus says the Lord GOD, Behold, I will stretch out my hand against the Philistines, and I will cut off the Cherethites and destroy the rest of the seacoast.

What are we to glean from God's hand of judgment against these nations who treated Israel so terribly even as God Himself was disciplining them through the Babylonians? That Israel is God's people and appointed for cosmic purposes in the world. Through Israel, we get the Bible, the covenantal promises, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the apostolic foundation of the church. Through Israel, we have the end delivered to John on Patmos and the foundations for modern world democracy and order. Through Israel, we have a timepiece of God's master plan unfolding for the universe, and we watch Israel to this moment to see His plan unfold. 

When Israel suffers, it is because they are God's possession, as messengers of His constant concern for the affairs of men. When Israel rises and returns, they show the world God's faithfulness to His promises. If Israel was not a nation, if Jews had been wiped off the earth like every other ancient people group, we would have no testimony to the trustworthy nature of the Lord. But here they are, still in the land, still vibrant and flourishing. They are a living example of God being faithful and that we who are not Israel can trust Him. 

So we dare not scoff at this people. We dare not hurt or curse them. For the promise to Abraham still stands in spite of their many failures. 

Genesis 12:3 (ESV) I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

And through Israel, we know God's Son, the chosen One sent to save us from our sins. Bless Israel for their gifts to our world through the Father's gracious hand. Amen.