Israel seems to have had enemies, perpetually!
As long as there has been a Jew, there has been someone to hate that Jew.
One reason being the Jewish people are the family through which God sent His Son into the world.
The nearly supernatural (world-wide) despite for that little nation is PROOF to me my Bible is the Truth. At least one of the (many) proofs I have used to buttress my faith.
Today in Ezekiel 38:9-12 this fact is further elucidated. God is here telling the anti-Semitic armies, a confederacy of vast proportions, some things …
“Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee. Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought: and thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates, to take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land.” King James Version, word for word.
Now, King James Version, but I have placed (in parentheses) some brief comments further explaining the sense of the Paragraph. “Thou (Russia and her allies) shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land (Israel), thou, and all thy bands (cohorts), and many people (united nations, against Israel) with thee. Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought (God even knows our thoughts): and thou shalt say (and our words), I will go up to the land of unwalled villages (less protected); I will go to them that are at rest (at peace), that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates, to take a spoil (loot, riches), and to take a prey (living things); to turn thine hand upon (against) the (once) desolate places that are now inhabited (a repopulated Israel), and upon the people that are gathered out (no longer scattered) of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods (God has again blessed them materially), that dwell (have homes) in the midst of the land (the Holy Land).”
Does God know the future, or what?
And folks, this has NOT yet happened, not literally. But it will some day. When Israel is “at peace.” (Personally I believe during the Tribulation, its first half. When the anti-Christ has signed a “peace treaty” with Israel. One which he will “break” of course, he being a liar.)
This further indicates that in those latter days, Russia will again be (or still be) a major world power! (If our interpretation of “Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal” be right, quoting Ezekiel 38:2-3, yesterday’s lesson.)
One preacher defines “prophecy” as: “History written in advance!”
Well then, we have a fine example of such in today’s Text!
And tomorrow, more, the Lord willing.
Looks like someone just might stand up for Israel!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell