Ezekiel 35:1-15 – The advantage of being God’s people.

Although God had already pronounced His judgment against Edom earlier in Ezekiel 25:12-17, He gave another message for her in chapter 35. The message in Ezekiel 35 is addressed to Mount Seir, a distinguishing mark of Edom. Since God’s people were slated to inherit the promised land again, any other nation that sought to occupy it had to be overthrown. Mount Seir, the symbol of Edom was such a nation. And she had to be removed.   

In verses 3-4, God makes known that He was personally against Mount Seir. He was going to crush her and make her a waste and desolate land. All her cities would be laid waste by God. He would prove Himself to them by what He would do to Mount Seir.

Two reasons were given for why God was judging Mount Seir. The first reason can be seen in verse 5. Edom aided Babylon in its devastation of Israel. It was bad enough for Edom not to assist God’s people but to assist the Babylonians in their attack of Judah was unforgivable. Hence God would deal with Edom seriously. They would receive their retribution. What Edom had done to Israel and Judah would be exactly what she would experience. Bloodshed would pursue her, and her land and cities would be laid waste. Everywhere, from her mountains to her ravine, would be filled with the slain. The true Lord would be known and acknowledged from what would happen to Edom.   

The second reason can be found in verse 10. Edom adamantly insisted that land that rightly belonged to Israel and Judah was her’s. The way she had acted, was an affront against the Lord, who had given the land to His covenant people. By going against Israel, Edom was going against the sovereign Lord. Far from achieving her aim of possessing the land, the Lord God would see to it that Edom would be destroyed and left desolate.  

God stands with His people. In coming to Christ, we belong to God, And He will stand with us.  Nothing can happen to us without His permission and knowledge. It is advantageous to belong to God. What a comfortable takeaway! While God will discipline us to straighten us, He will not allow anyone to take advantage of us.