Ezekiel 35 Mount Seir
God speaks through Ezekiel against Mount Seir. Mount Seir is in the nation of Edom and they turned their back on Israel in her time of trouble.
The animosity between Edom and Israel is as old as Esau and Jacob. These two brothers are the founders of the nations. We know our reading in Genesis about the brother’s feud and how it broke them apart. They later reconciled, but Jacob didn’t accept Esau’s invitation to ‘come live with him’ afterwards. I’m wondering if that made the rift deepen again.
The children of these to brothers carried on the separation and passed it on and on and on. By the time Israel left Egypt, the feud was entrenched. Edom would not allow Israel to pass through their land to reach the Promised Land. And the animosity continued to grow and the two faced each other across the battle field more than once. King David subdued Edom, but they rebelled under Solomon. Then, the helped Nebuchadnezzar in his conquest of Israel. WRONG MOVE on their part. God has something to say about that.
Let’s rejoin Ezekiel as he shares God’s pronouncement against Mount Seir and Edom itself. Holy Spirit, lead this journey. Take me where You will and show me what You would have me apply to my own life.
♥ ♦ ♥
Ezekiel is meeting with the Lord this morning when God brings up a subject close to his heart. God brings up the nation of Edom; Israel’s brothers. Ezekiel has always had a tender heart for the people of Edom. He isn’t exactly certain why, but he won’t deny its existence. Maybe it is because he feels the hurt of the centuries old conflict that started between two brothers. Maybe it is because he realizes how, with just one change in history, the shoe could have been on the other foot. It might also because he has seen what hate can do to a family. Whatever the reason, he feels for his ‘long lost brothers’ and what could have been.
As God starts speaking against Mount Seir, all these thoughts quickly run through Ezekiel’s mind. He has to silence them in order to hear the Lord.
“Son of man, set your face against Mount Seir, and prophesy against it, and say to it, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against you, Mount Seir, and I will stretch out my hand against you, and I will make you a desolation and a waste. I will lay your cities waste, and you shall become a desolation, and you shall know that I am the Lord. Because you cherished perpetual enmity and gave over the people of Israel to the power of the sword at the time of their calamity, at the time of their final punishment, therefore, as I live, declares the Lord God, I will prepare you for blood, and blood shall pursue you; because you did not hate bloodshed, therefore blood shall pursue you. I will make Mount Seir a waste and a desolation, and I will cut off from it all who come and go. And I will fill its mountains with the slain. On your hills and in your valleys and in all your ravines those slain with the sword shall fall. I will make you a perpetual desolation, and your cities shall not be inhabited. Then you will know that I am the Lord” (Ezekiel 35:2-9).
“O Lord God, this hurts today. I know that Edom conspired against the people with Nebuchadnezzar. And there is no excuse for it. Yet they are our brothers.”
“They are not acting like brothers, and haven’t been for a LONG time. They are full of envy. ‘Because you said, “These two nations and these two countries shall be mine, and we will take possession of them”—although the Lord was there— therefore, as I live, declares the Lord God, I will deal with you according to the anger and envy that you showed because of your hatred against them. And I will make myself known among them, when I judge you. And you shall know that I am the Lord’ (Ezekiel 35:10-12a).”
Ezekiel hangs his head and shakes it slowly. He knows that God is a just God. He cannot stand against God’s judgment, no matter how much he would like it to be otherwise. Edom has laid their own trap and fallen into it.
God continues on with what HE has seen from this ‘brother’. “I have heard all the revilings that you uttered against the mountains of Israel, saying, ‘They are laid desolate; they are given us to devour.’ And you magnified yourselves against me with your mouth, and multiplied your words against me; I heard it. Thus says the Lord God: While the whole earth rejoices, I will make you desolate. As you rejoiced over the inheritance of the house of Israel, because it was desolate, so I will deal with you; you shall be desolate, Mount Seir, and all Edom, all of it. Then they will know that I am the Lord” (Ezekiel 35:12b-15).
Ezekiel hears the Lord’s pronouncement and honors it. “I will do as You have instructed me. But may I pray for the people of Edom as well?”
“Son of man, I desire that you pray for ALL people. Even those who have done you harm. Who is to say what impact your prayer may have upon their lives. THAT is love, and it is the kind of love that I desire from My children.”
Ezekiel spends a few extra moments interceding on behalf of the people of Edom before rising to continue his day. “Lord God, for those who are of Edom, but their hearts are tender towards You, protect them and bring them out in safety before destruction rains down on the land. As You cared for Lot in the time of Sodom and Gomorrah, watch over the righteous of Edom.”
Ezekiel rises from his place with the Lord and readies himself for a trip to the marketplace. His heart is still heavy, but he KNOWS that God has heard his plea. His steps are a little heavier as he approaches the stone where he always stands.
Ezekiel steps up onto the stone and begins proclaiming the Lord’s judgment on Edom. Most of the people in the marketplace listen in silence, but a few start calling out joyously over Edom’s future.
“They deserve that and SO MUCH MORE!” “It’s about time!” “Now they will see how it feels to have the hand on God crush you!”
Ezekiel is angered by their words. “Stop! Do NOT boast about your brother’s pain. God may count you guilty for such an attitude and punish you as well!” He looks around at the people with fierceness in his eyes. “Our God has called us to love our neighbors. Love does not gloat over the downfall of another, no matter how ‘just’ we may believe it to be. We trust in the Lord’s judgments; on our enemies as well as on ourselves. He knows the hearts of man. HE will be the judge.”
Word quickly spread regarding Ezekiel’s rebuke. There were no more outcries for ‘punishment’ when he shared the Lords words again. He shares this message three times that day.
Ezekiel continues to share this message from the Lord for a full month. And he prays for the righteous in Edom before each time he shares.
(to be continued)
Edom would be destroyed, just as God said. Those of them who remained were folded into the fabric of the Jews. They became known as Idumeans. Later, they were forced to accept the Jewish religion. Herod, whom sought to kill Jesus, was an Idumean.
God judges the hearts of men. HIS judgments are just and true. That does not mean that every person who does evil is judged right away or that a righteous man will never suffer. It means that, IN THE END God’s judgment will stand for all eternity.
We are called to love our neighbor as ourself and to do good to those who spitefully use us. We don’t strike out in vengeance or hate. We also don’t stand in front of them just to be pummeled either. We speak the truth in LOVE and then let the Spirit do the rest.
And God NEVER said it would be easy. Look back at any of the prophets, Jesus’ life, and His disciples’ lives. They had a HARD road to walk. But they walked it with the Lord; knowing that it was TRULY worth it in the end.
Father God, help me to TRULY love my brothers and sisters as You have called me to do. This includes my physical brothers and sisters. Some of them are harder for me to ‘like’ than others. But liking their actions and loving them is NOT the same thing. Maybe that’s what Ezekiel felt for Edom; at least in this story.
