Ezekiel 35:1-15
Q.1. Why was God going to bring destruction on the inhabitants of Mount Seir? – (Ezk.35:1-15)
The Edomites of Mount Seir were the descendants of Esau, the brother of Jacob, who was the father of Israel (c.f. Gen.36:9). They became sworn enemies of Israel, and continued to resist the purposes of God, as in the unprovoked attack by the Amalekites (c.f. Ex.17:8-16). Examples were Haman, who bought an edict to annihilate the Jews in Esther’s time, and Herod the Great, who tried to slay Baby Jesus (c.f. Mt.2:16-18). Another Herod persecuted the leaders of the church (Acts 12:1-3). These were all Amalekites/Edomites/Idumeans. God described their – … everlasting enmity and have delivered the sons of Israel to the power of the sword at the time of their calamity, at the time of the punishment of the end (Ezk.35:5). They were treacherous.
Q.2. What do we learn about God’s knowledge of our attitudes and actions? – (Ezk.35:10-13)
Man’s sinfulness deceives him into thinking that God doesn’t know or care about his wickedness, because judgment may be delayed. We are inclined to take God’s mercy for granted. However, God keeps an exact record of all evil – 12 Then you will know that I, the Lord, have heard all your reviling which you have spoken against the mountains of Israel saying, `They are laid desolate; they are given to us for food.’ 13 And you have spoken arrogantly against Me and have multiplied your words against Me; I have heard it (Ezk.35:12-13). God does see and knows it all. A Day of Reckoning has been fixed, as Paul reminded the Greeks – 30 Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, 31 because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead (c.f. Acts 17:30-31).