Ezekiel 38:17-23 – Under God’s protective hand

Ezekiel 38:17-23 declares concerning the havoc Gog would wreak against Israel. Verse 17 indicates that God had already made known this through the lips of his former prophets. Here God did not identify the prophets whom He had spoken through concerning this matter. However, we know that the messages of prophets always dovetail with each other's because God is their source.   

Verses 18-19 reveal that on that day when Gog attacked Israel, God’s wrath would be stirred against him. A great earthquake would occur in Israel. Furthermore, there would be a great upheaval. Man, beasts from land, sea, or sky, and physical features such as mountains, pathways, and ground would all be thoroughly affected by the catastrophe.

Verse 20 describes the turmoil this way: “The fish of the sea, the birds of the heavens, the beasts of the field, all the creeping things that creep on the earth, and all the men who are on the face of the earth will shake at My presence; the mountains also will be thrown down, the steep pathways will collapse, and every wall will fall to the ground.” 

 

God would bring a judgment against Gog and his armies. He would call for a war against them. There would be infighting among themselves. Pestilences and bloodshed would be their experience. Upon them, God would also send on them “a torrential rain, with hailstones, fire and brimstone.”   

 

Through His mighty judgment, God would magnify and sanctify and make Himself known in full view of the nations. And they would come to recognize and know that He the Lord is the true God.

 

God’s people are ever under His protective care. To touch God’s people is to touch the apple of His eye. No one can plot against God’s people and get away from His reckoning. He promises to keep us and He is faithful and will do it.