God knows mathematics.
He, being the Creator, even knows fractions!
And Bible Prophecy is FULL of numbers.
For example, today’s Text … “Therefore, thou son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: and I will turn thee back, and leave but THE SIXTH PART of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel.” Ezekiel 39:1-2
I am glad God is “for” us! “What shall we then say to these things? If God be FOR us, who can be AGAINST us?” Romans 8:31
Because God can, clearly, be AGAINST some things, some people!
Like the anti-Jewish confederation of Ezekiel chapters 38-39. I say such (anti-Jewish) because this marching (wicked) army is attempting to rob the Land of Israel of all her treasures. Sounds “anti” to me!
So … when that rebellious crowd wars AGAINST God’s people … God in turn will fight AGAINST them! “Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I AM AGAINST THREE, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal.”
“Turn thee back” is a verb, of course. Translating the Hebrew word “shub,” carrying the idea of making something do a 180 degree reversal! God will not allow these aggressors to come into the Land, not into its heart! He will repel them! “Shub” here is grammatically intensive in its nature, God will energetically do this! Mightily so!
Now to the math.
God calculating, promising: “I will turn thee back, and leave but THE SIXTH PART of thee.” Only 17% of that army will survive! Does this mean that 83% of them will perish? If my math is correct, that’s the case!
One sixth!
And there’s more detail tomorrow, in the Lesson, about their defeat.
God intervening in a Battle!
God defending His people!
That’s exactly what will happen in this Ezekiel context.
Nations who will never rise to prominence again!
God caring for “the apple of His Eye,” Israel!
“For thus saith the LORD of hosts; after the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled (attacked, plundered) you: for he that toucheth you (Israel) toucheth the apple of his eye.” Zechariah 2:8
Wow!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell