Ezekiel 35:1-15 I Heard That!
God heard the taunts and derisions Edom aimed at Him, Israel, and Judah. He also heard them as they tried to lay claim to the Promised Land in His people’s absence.
I wasn’t sure who the people were in respect to Mt. Seir in the beginning. We just hear of the land formations for most of this prophecy. Only in the final verse do we see the nation which inhabited this mountain; Edom. My “bible helps” also told me that the region of Mt. Seir was the home of the Edomites.
Edom was a close neighbor of Israel and Judah but they also had a familial connection. They were the descendants of Esau; Jacob’s older twin brother. That was MANY generations ago but in old testament times, it still mattered. When I read of God’s charges against them, “sibling rivalry” is what comes to my mind. This rivalry had deep roots of bitterness and a strong plant to draw from.
Jacob and Esau had struggled against one another from the time they were conceived. They wrestled in the womb and Esau emerged with Jacob holding onto his heel. They continued this struggle for the rest of their lives; sometimes more intense than others. When the brothers finally made up, Esau invited Jacob and his family to come live in his country. Jacob said he would but changed his mind and settled in the land of Canaan instead.
By the time God brought Israel out of Egypt, Edom was fully established. As the Israelites traveled to the Promised Land they took special care NOT to trample on ‘their brothers’ land. They treated Edom with ‘kid gloves’, even when that treatment wasn’t returned in kind. Edom was NOT one of the nations that God wanted driven from the Promised Land.
When God sent Israel and later Judah into exile, Edom got excited about it. “We can take the land for ourselves now.” They rejoiced over the treatment Judah received; sword, pestilence, and captivity. But more than that, they celebrated their misguided understanding of God’s actions. They interpreted Israel and Judah’s fall as God’s inability to protect His people. They saw it as a sign that God was weak and had failed His people. And this assumption and words affirming their assumption were heard by God. He was VERY angry with their words and behavior.
Through Ezekiel, God spoke to Mt. Seir and Edom. He told them that He was going to prove Who was God and who was not, in a way that they would KNOW His hand. He would act so decisively that there would be NO doubt as to Who was responsible for their predicament.
Something that interests me is that God didn’t tell Ezekiel to share this with the Edomites. God told Ezekiel to speak to Mt. Seir itself. God doesn’t even tell us that He sent Ezekiel to do this task up close and in person to the mountain. I’m curious how Edom heard God’s charge against them and their future. Did God send someone else to speak to them? Did He share these words with one of their own prophets? How did they find out for certain that this was God’s doing? And has this promise already been fulfilled?
Edom, as a nation, no longer exists. Not being well versed in ancient history, I asked Google if Mt. Seir was ever laid desolate. I did not find that it had, so I’m assuming that the fulfillment of this prophecy will be seen when the one regarding the peace of Israel is completed.
I was wondering if the land of Edom was part of the current conflict for Israel. The reason is because we are told in Deuteronomy that Israel will not be given even one step of the land of Edom. But since Edom is no more, I wondered if they were trying to annex it. The answer to my question, to the best of my understanding, is no. The land of Edom is controlled by Jordan and is not in dispute. Which brings me to my last question. Will Edom be restored so that this prophecy can be fulfilled or is God speaking of whomever owns the land at the time? Edom is only mentioned in the last verse at the last moment. Probably questions I won’t have the answers to until that time is here, or until I meet Jesus face-to-face.
Father God, YOU contend with those who speak against You and call You ‘incapable of caring for Your people’. My voice is important in a debate such as this but I don’t have to ‘win’ the argument. YOU will put ALL doubts to rest. And on that day, NONE will be able to deny Your power!
I want to speak of Your strength and authority at every opportunity; be it in song or in ink. There is NONE like You! And NONE to compare in power and majesty. I put ALL my trust and faith in YOU.
