Ezekiel 26:1-3

November 14, 2025 by Leave a Comment

“In the eleventh year, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me: ‘Son of man, because Tyre said concerning Jerusalem, Aha, the gate of the peoples is broken; it has swung open to me. I shall be replenished, now that she is laid waste,’ therefore thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against you, O Tyre, and will bring up many nations against you, as the sea brings up its waves.’” (Ezekiel 26:1-3)

This continues the theme of “be careful how you treat Israel” (Gen 12:3). Note that Tyre will be judged because of what they said about Israel, which reflected their heart toward Israel, and can be summed up as “We will be enriched by Israel’s downfall.” Look at verse 7: “For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will bring against Tyre from the north Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, king of kings, with horses and chariots, and with horsemen and a host of many soldiers.”

I asked ChatGPT if verse 7 was fulfilled in history. Here’s the answer:

Was Ezekiel 26:7 fulfilled?

Yes.

When?

During Nebuchadnezzar’s 13-year siege of Tyre (585–572 BC).

Judah fell in 586 BC. So, apparently,  Nebuchadnezzar simply turned northwest and headed to Tyre after submitting Jerusalem. There is some irony in that God used Nebuchadnezzar to punish Tyre after Tyre rejoiced at what Nebuchadnezzar was doing to Judah.

“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.” (Genesis 12:3)

Father, please help me to love what and who you love. Amen.

Filed Under: devotional thoughts, Ezekiel, Genesis, Israel, Jerusalem, Old Testament, Tyre

Ezekiel 25:12-13

November 13, 2025 by Leave a Comment

“Thus says the Lord God: Because Edom acted revengefully against the house of Judah and has grievously offended in taking vengeance on them, 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.” (Ezekiel 25:12-13)

In this selection, the Lord explains that He will pour out His wrath on Edom because of the way they treated Israel. The Lord does the same toward Ammon, Moab, Seir, and Philistia in this chapter. The point is that God judged the nations on how they treated Israel. That should not surprise us because God said he would bless those who bless Israel and curse those who curse Israel (Gen 12:3).

Notice that the modern world knows nothing about these nations. It doesn’t mean there are no people alive today who are descended from these nations. It means that no one likely knows they are descended from them, and certainly none of those people (assuming they exist) are trying to revive those nations as modern countries. Only one nation mentioned in this chapter is a nation today. Israel.

The political conservatives in the USA are currently divided over the topic of Israel. I want to be careful who I lock arms with because I don’t want to be in the bunch against whom God raises his hand. I don’t want to be the modern equivalent of Ammon, Moab, Seir, Edom, and Philistia.

Father, help me to believe your word as simply as it is given. Amen.

Filed Under: devotional thoughts, Edom, Ezekiel, Israel, Old Testament

Ezekiel 20:31, 42

November 8, 2025 by Leave a Comment

“When you present your gifts and offer up your children in fire, you defile yourselves with all your idols to this day. And shall I be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, declares the Lord God, I will not be inquired of by you.” (31)

“And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I bring you into the land of Israel, the country that I swore to give to your fathers.” (42‬)

This chapter is explicit in two things: First, the Lord makes very clear why he is angry with Israel. Israel has continually rebelled against His kindness and rules. Here, the Lord says they are still worshipping idols and sacrificing their children to them, even as the exile is underway! How hard can the human heart get? I’d better beware and guard my heart.

The second thing that is explicit in this chapter is that the Lord will restore Israel in the land and in their relationship with the Lord. How gracious can God be? Very! I need to make sure that I receive His grace, not tread on it.

The verses above are samples. Both points are made more than once in this chapter.

Father, you are an amazingly kind and gracious God. There is none like you. Amen.

Filed Under: devotional thoughts, exile, Ezekiel, idolatry, Israel, Judah, Old Testament, rebellion, Restoring Israel

Ezekiel 17:15

November 5, 2025 by Leave a Comment

“But he rebelled against him by sending his ambassadors to Egypt, that they might give him horses and a large army. Will he thrive? Can one escape who does such things? Can he break the covenant and yet escape?” (Ezekiel 17:15)

This is an interesting look into the heart. The background is critical: Judah had rebelled against the one true and living God by bowing a knee to the idols. God raised up Babylon as a means of punishment. Then, the king of Babylon made a covenant with one of the royal offspring. However, the royal offspring rebelled against Babylon. Interestingly, he didn’t rebel to return to the Lord. He rebelled to run into the arms of Egypt! Rather than run to the Lord, he ran further away.

Father, please help me not lean on my own understanding. Help me run toward you. Amen.

Filed Under: Babylon, devotional thoughts, Egypt, exile, Ezekiel, idolatry, Israel, Judah, Old Testament, rebellion

Ezekiel 15:7-8

November 3, 2025 by Leave a Comment

“And I will set my face against them. Though they escape from the fire, the fire shall yet consume them, and you will know that I am the Lord, when I set my face against them. And I will make the land desolate, because they have acted faithlessly, declares the Lord God.” (Ezekiel 15:7-8)

Using the wood of a vine as imagery, the Lord makes two points to Ezekiel. First, the most important outcome of the Lord’s punishment on Judah is that Ezekiel will know that he is dealing with YHVH, the LORD. This foretelling of the future is indicative of God.

Second, great destruction is coming, though some will survive. This same imagery is used in Isaiah 6: “Then I said, ‘How long, O Lord?’ And he said: ‘Until cities lie waste without inhabitant, and houses without people, and the land is a desolate waste, and the Lord removes people far away, and the forsaken places are many in the midst of the land. And though a tenth remain in it, it will be burned again, like a terebinth or an oak, whose stump remains when it is felled.’ The holy seed is its stump.” (Isaiah‬ ‭6‬:‭11‬-‭13‬)

Thank you, Father, for confirming your identity and for being consistent. Amen.

Filed Under: devotional thoughts, Ezekiel, Isaiah, Israel, Old Testament, rebellion, Word Pictures
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