Gary Gleans

The plans of God for the future of the earth are securely in His hands.  There is nothing that is hidden from Him and there is nothing beyond His control.  Every event of the past, present and future is a part of His sovereign plan.  Ezekiel looks into the future as God reveals His plans for the nation of Israel after this period of exile and judgment.  The fact that Israel would return to their land has already been established, but now Ezekiel looks into the distant future to a day when Israel will once again come under attack.  However, the results of this attack will be very different from the results of the Babylonian attack.  God is in control of this world and in control of the circumstances we face in life.  We may be surprised by the things that befall us, but God is never surprised. ISRAEL WILL COME UNDER ATTACK FROM GOG: Ezekiel identifies coalition of nations that are led by and therefore referred to as Gog.  Many have identified Gog and Magog as Russia and Moscow.  Ho

Hope is a much more gratifying message than doom.  Ezekiel has been called by God to deliver what, for the most part, has been a message of doom.  God now calls Ezekiel to deliver a much different and much more satisfying message: a message of hope.  One of the biggest questions on the minds of the children of Israel who knew the Scriptures had to have been about the promises of God.  God has made many promises to the fathers of Israel about their inhabiting the land and being a blessing to all the nations.  The destruction of the land, the death of so many people and the captivity in the nations does not seem to fit into that promise from God. However, God now gives Ezekiel two illustrations that depict a message of hope for God’s people and the nation. THE NATION OF ISRAEL WILL BE REVIVED: The first illustration is a valley full of dry bones that represents Israel in her current state of spiritual rebellion and physical captivity.  It appears that Israel has been killed, and is

Restoration, redemption, reconciliation and revival are all words that describe the work of God in the hearts of men.  This is God’s purpose in the world and it is God’s plan for the nation of Israel.  God has disciplined His people and they have been taken captive into the nations.  However, this does not mean God has forgotten His people and more importantly this does not mean God has forgotten His promises.  God has a plan and is sovereignly at work in the history of this world to bring mankind back to Himself.  Since the Fall, a breech has been established between God and man that impairs our fellowship, skews our view and pollutes our worship.  God has bridged that breech through the cross of Christ and is in the process of restoring us fully to Himself through His redemptive plan.  Israel serves as a divine illustration and instrument of God for the fulfillment of God’s plan for reconciliation. GOD WILL RESTORE ISRAEL TO HER LAND: Due to Israel’s rebellion, He has had to jud

Ezekiel proclaims judgment on Mt. Seir.   Just as Mr. Zion is a representation of the nation of Israel, Mt. Seir represents Edom or the descendants of Esau.  This is the second time that this proclamation is being made.  Chapter 25 was also dedicated to a condemnation of Edom.  God will not be mocked without consequence, and the Edomites were mocking God because of the fall of Israel.  They were about to experience the consequence of their lack of reverence and respect. EDOM IS CONDEMNED FOR THEIR ARROGANCE: Since the time of Jacob and Esau there has been a competition and jealousy between the descendants of the twin brothers.  The Edomites had become a powerful nation but had also become a people full of arrogance. They viewed themselves as being self-sufficient and would not submit themselves to the Lord.  They were an irreverent people who placed little or no value on the blessings of the Lord.  When they heard of the judgment of Israel at the hands of the Babylonians; they res

Leadership is a responsibility God entrusts to men as a means of meeting the needs of His people.  He calls leaders to set an example for others to follow and to serve those who are under their care.  He equips leaders and He expects leaders to use their resources in order to meet the needs of His people.  In this passage, Ezekiel compares Israel’s leaders to shepherds and He calls the children of Israel sheep.  Since the shepherds have been selfish and unfaithful, the sheep are neglected and rebellious.  A shepherd will always be evaluated by the condition of the sheep under his care.  People will almost always reflect the character of their leaders.  This is why leadership is such a great responsibility and why leaders will be severely judged by God.  A leader has an impact far beyond his own life.   GOD’S REJECTION OF ISRAEL’S SHEPHERDS: The shepherds of Israel most likely refer to both the political as well as spiritual leaders.  The kings and princes of Israel were corrupt an

Everyone has a function to fulfill.  God has place duties upon men and expects them to respond accordingly.  It was Ezekiel’s job to proclaim God’s Word.  God must be faithful to His Word.  The people must respond to God’s Word.  Since God is always faithful, the only possibility of failure is with men not revealing or responding to God’s revelation appropriately.  These are sober warnings to everyone who teaches the Word of God as well as to everyone who hears the Word of God.  We are called to be accurate teachers of the Word of God.  We are also called to be obedient hearers of the Word of God. THE WATCHMAN MUST WARN: Ezekiel had been called by God to be prophet in Israel.  His job was to reveal God’s Word to the people.  His message was not a popular one but it was an accurate one.  When we are called to speak the Word of God we cannot be concerned with the popularity of our message.  Our only concern must be for the accuracy of our message.  When we see man living in sin our

Ezekiel concludes God’s condemnation of Egypt in this section by giving a graphic illustration of how God will judge this wicked nation.  God’s hatred of sin is very clear and it is evident that God is willing and able to judge sin in the most complete of ways.  God is patient and merciful, but He will not tolerate the sins of men forever.  He has demonstrated time and time again that He is ready to destroy entire nations and even generations who do not fear Him.  Unfortunately, the population of the world does not recognize God’s coming judgment on them.  Man’s tendency is to think that God’s judgment is always for other people and not Himself.  We are all to be warned about thinking that we are exempt of God’s judgment. EGYPT WILL BE JUDGED BY GOD: Egypt was considered to be like a lion that ruled the nations and had no predators.  This was Egypt’s view of herself and the view that other nations had of her.  God’s view of Egypt was very different.  God saw her as a sea monster t

The Lord continues to reveal His plans for Egypt to Ezekiel.  Those plans are not very favorable plans, but God has made it abundantly clear that He is determined to judge Egypt as He has judged the other nations.  We might wonder why God would spend so much time speaking of this judgment of Egypt.  Perhaps the answer is, that the remnant of people who were left in Israel after the city of Jerusalem fell they were supposed to stay in the land, but due to their fear they decided to flee to Egypt for protection.  God wanted to make it abundantly clear to His people that the choice to go the Egypt was a choice to face further war and judgment. God always wants us to trust Him and not in the strength of men.  Ezekiel makes a comparison between Egypt and Assyria that should have brought fear to all who heard it. EGYPT IS LIKE ASSYRIA IN GREATNESS: Egypt considered herself to be one of the super-powers of the region that was too great to fall and too strong to be defeated.  God wants to

Ezekiel continues to hear the word of the Lord against the nation of Egypt.  This is a lament for the nation due to the destruction that would come upon the nation.  God’s judgment on Egypt and all of the surrounding nations is severe and was brought on by their constant refusal to recognize Him as God.  Egypt worshiped many Gods’ and had multiple cities that were built in honor of different deities of their own imagination.  For generations the Egyptians ignored God and the multiple warnings He gave them but God would be ignored no longer.  He would get their attention through judgment.  Many in today’s society have become complacent in their prosperity and refuse to acknowledge God in their lives.  This is a very dangerous position.  God will not be ignored forever and the judgment of the Lord is very severe. EGYPT WILL BE SUBDUED:  God’s Word comes to Ezekiel once again to proclaim judgment against Egypt.  God has determined to subdue this proud nation and destroy both the prop

It is a dangerous thing to claim the works of God as our own.  Ezekiel now turns his attention to the nation of Egypt and pronounces God’s judgment on this great and powerful nation.  Egypt is strategically located and had the Nile River flowing through its land.  The river provided water and carried fertile soil to the land of Egypt during its flood stages that would allow Egypt to be one of the most productive and powerful nations on the face of the Earth. This power went to her head and Egypt became a very proud nation and the rulers of Egypt saw themselves as deities.  God would not tolerate this self-idolatry so He declares judgment on Egypt as well. THE PRIDE OF EGYPT: Egypt, like Tyre, Sidon and Assyria, thought she was too powerful and strong to fall under the attack of any other nation.  Egypt became a regional super power because of her fertile soil and great population.  This brought about a sense of pride in the people and especially in the rulers of the land.  Pharaoh

Pride is at the heart of so many of our sins. Ezekiel condemns the king of Tyre for his pride that made him believe that he was a god and not just a man.  It is a very dangerous thing to allow our hearts to be filled with pride because it makes us blind to our own foolishness as well as the consequences of our actions and attitudes.  Prosperity and power are two of the greatest contributing factors to pride and the king of Tyre had plenty of both.  There is nothing inherently wrong with prosperity; in fact God has often blessed His children with prosperity.  Power also is established by God, but the danger is when we start to believe that they are deserved and fill our hearts with pride. THE PROBLEM OF PRIDE: Ezekiel reflects on the fall of three men: the king of Tyre, Adam and the king of Sidon.  All three of these men had great privilege.  They were given positions of authority, they had great wealth and they were powerful.  However, they all fell because of the pride that enter

Ezekiel continues his condemnation of Tyre.  He compares the city to a finely crafted ship that was made of the best materials, was full of the choicest of merchandise and was manned by the most skilled crew.  However, glorious vessel would fall to the bottom of the sea.  Tyre was destined to be the Titanic.  Pride is a very dangerous sin to practice and will drag us down to the depths of despair.  TYRE WAS FULL: Tyre was considered to be a model city.  Her location on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea was strategic for both defense and commerce.  She was built with the finest and most beautiful of materials that were imported from all over the world.  Her army was hand-picked from the finest of solders in the region and they were equipped with the most sophisticated weapons available to man.  All of these strengths made Trye a city of destination for all of the surrounding nations.  Merchants from near and far flocked to Tyre in order to buy and sell everything from food to pre

“Too big to fall” is an expression we use to refer to big business or even nations that, from a human perspective, seem essential to the general good.  We have seen governments “bailout” businesses and the United Nations save the economies of a struggling nation.  The city of Tyre was thought to have achieved that status in the days of Ezekiel.  Tyre was the capital of Phoenicia and was vital to the economy of the entire region.  From God’s perspective there is never a city, nation, business or person that is “too big to fall.”  God stands over the nations and every person in every nation and holds their lives in His hands.  He does with our lives and the history of this world as He sees fit.  We must never allow our pride to convince us otherwise. THE ABOMINATION OF TYRE: Tyre was a wicked and sinful city in a perverse nation.  The people worshiped idols and lived in immorality.  However, the abomination that brought about her destruction was the sin of pride.  Ezekiel prophesied

God reigns over all the nations of the world.  There is a sense in which Israel is God’s chosen nation, but the reason He chose Israel was in order to bless all the other nations through them.  He chose to bless Israel so He could bless the nations.  This is very similar to the blessings God has given to the church.  We are blessed in order to be a blessing.  God will often bless His people in unconventional ways.  Many times judgment and suffering are not seen as blessings, but God will often use these as blessings in disguise.  The nations surrounding Israel were corrupt and wicked.  They were a terrible influence on Israel and they ended up contributing to the demise of Israel as a nation.  Israel was judged by God and these nations rejoiced, but their rejoicing was short lived.  God also brought judgment down upon them.  The result of this judgment in every case was that the nation leaned that the Lord is God.  God’s judgment of the nations demonstrates His sovereignty over all of

“Desperate times call for desperate measures.”  The nation of Israel is preparing to go through a time of judgment in which they will experience pain, death and hardship beyond what the nation could imagine.  Ezekiel gives two tragic illustrations of the coming judgment.  I don’t think any of us can imagine the price that Ezekiel would have to pay in order to deliver the message that God wanted him to deliver.  It was a desperate time for the nation and in order for Ezekiel to communicate God’s message he would enter into a time of personal desperation.  Today we live in a world of desperate times.  I wonder what price the Lord would have us be willing to pay in order to communicate His message to this generation? A LOSS OF LIFE: The first object lesson that Ezekiel was called to give was typical in that it was a word picture.  However the significance of the word picture was very severe.  The picture was that of a boiling pot where all kinds of flesh would be thrown in and boiled

Adultery and Idolatry are commonly compared in Scripture.  They both depict the breaking of a covenant and unfaithfulness.  Ezekiel describes Israel and Judah as two sisters married to the same man: God.  These two sisters were raised in Egypt where they were sexually abused as young girls.  This is an illustration of the fact that the nations who would eventually become Israel and Judah learned to worship idols while they were living in Egypt during the birth of the nation.  Despite this unfortunate beginning, God made a covenant with Israel and Judah making them His “wife.”  As a husband, God provided everything for His wife.  He gave provision, protection and passionate love.  However, Israel and Judah were not satisfied and longed for the affections of the other nations that surrounded them.  Any time we worship someone or something above the Lord; it is like we are committing adultery against the Lord. THE IDOLATRY OF ISRAEL: Israel is called the older or greater of the two s

When tragedy strikes our lives we often ask the question “why?”  We speculate as to why God would allow such a thing to happen in our lives.  In the previous chapter we saw how God would judge the nation of Israel with a sword in the hands of Nebuchadnezzar; in this chapter Ezekiel explains exactly why the nation would be judged in this manner.  Not every difficulty that occurs in our lives is due to personal sin; but in the case of Israel’s judgment, it most certainly was.  God does not allow sin to go unpunished and eventually will judge all mankind.  There is no sinless man apart from the Lord Jesus.  The only way any of us can escape the wrath of God over our sin is through faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus to set us free from sin.  In order to convince us of the reality of God’s coming wrath He will often discipline men for sin.  Anytime we suffer it is wise to examine our hearts and lives for sin and then repent and take that sin to the cross of Christ. A WIDE VAR

Ezekiel is given another image to proclaim to the people.  He is to describe the sword of the Lord coming out of its sheath to attack the nation of Israel.  A sword is an instrument of war and a sign of judgment against the nation.  They had become complacent in a false sense of security believing that they would always be blessed and protected by God based on the promises He had made to their forefathers.  However, they were being very selective of the promises they were remembering.  God had promised to judge His children if they disobeyed.  There was also a promise of restoration in response to repentance but the warning about God’s judgment was also very clear.  God’s judgment is often delayed due to His longsuffering and patience; but it will not be delayed forever.  It is a very dangerous thing to lose sight of the judgment of God and be lulled into a false sense of security. THE SWORD WILL SLAUGHTER ISRAEL: Ezekiel describes a sword that is pulled from its sheath and polish

God’s character is always consistent.  He responds to men according to their deeds and their willingness to take Him at His Word.  God will not stand passively by as men rebel against Him.  However, God is also gracious and merciful so it is consistent with His character to forgive those who recognize their sin and turn to Him in repentance.  This is the way that God has dealt with mankind from the very beginning and it is how God will continue to deal with man throughout history.  As we evaluate our relationship with the Lord, we must do so from this perspective. We must examine our own hearts and determine if we are coming before Him as rebellious or repentant.  He will respond to us in a way that is consistent with His character. GOD REJECTS THE REBELLIOUS: The elders of Israel came to inquire of the Lord through Ezekiel.  The elders recognized that they were in trouble and the Babylonian army was about to dominate them.  In this crucial moment the elders come to Ezekiel to try

Ezekiel is given a lament about the history of the nation of Israel.  God had chosen this nation to bless and be a blessing to all of the other nations.  It had everything going for it and could have been a shining example of God’s glory and light.  Unfortunately, that which should have been a song of joy became a lament of sorrow.  Israel is pictured first as a lion and then as a vine, both of which had great potential for productivity.  However, the ending was sad and wasteful.  We too have been given a great opportunity for productivity through the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  The question is if we trust in His work in our lives and following His leading or if we are trusting in our own strength and following the ways of the world.  It is vital that we trust and obey Him if we are going to fulfill our potential in the kingdom of God. THE LION WHO LOST ITS ROAR: Israel is pictured as a lioness that produced powerful lion cubs that ruled over the nation and conquere