Ezekiel chapter 38

vs 1

As it does.

vs 2

Good old Gog and Magog. I wondered where it came from. Don't ask me where they are though. But now, instead of prophecying to dry bones, he's prophesying against some more nations.

vs 3

So God just sets the record straight right away.

vs 4

It sounds like God is going to drag him out painfully, but I don't quite understand why the army is involved. Perhaps it will become clear.

vs 5

So that sounds like a pretty big army.

vs 6

Okay, we're talking a hell of a lot of troops - an empire worth.

vs 7

So Gog (or Magog?) is taking control of this huge empire worth of armies, because God has called them to do so.

vs 8

Wait, what? God is raising another army to invade Israel? After he's brought them back and made peace with them again?

vs 9

Unless God is going to destroy them all at the border, I think we're in for some repetitive history here.

vs 10

What a cool way to explain it - they will have this huge army, march to Israel, and then they'll think something evil. Before that, it was just military manouevres.

vs 11

Of course, no reason for Israel to build gates, because God is their gates and walls.

vs 12

Good to think that Israel will have been made rich again by God. But I assume that this is at the very least a warning to say that Israel may still have enemies.

vs 13

Why they feel the need to throw in their two cents, I don't know. But the fact is, that's the question you're bound to ask when there is an army at your doorstep. They're probably not going to borrow a cup of sugar.

vs 14

And here's the thing - God is talking to someone who probably is a leader of armies, and who probably does think like that. It's almost accusatory, like saying, "If you saw a baby with a lollipop, you'd think about stealing it, wouldn't you?"

vs 15

I guess if you think it's going to be easy pickings, then why not?

vs 16

This is what I love, and it is actually a fantastic way of showing how God makes things happen, using people's own selfish natures against them, and using evil for good. God allows Gog to raise up an army, God actually tempts Gog to come and attack a soft target, Gog selfishly thinks that's a good idea, and I think, from the sound of it, God is going to smite Gog's ass off the planet.

vs 17

So this isn't new news, then.

vs 18

Even though God tempted him to do it, and even went so far as to put hooks in and drag him there, God will still be angry he's turned up.

vs 19

Which is not the most awesome news ever for anyone, really.

vs 20

That sounds like an earthquake, all right. A biggun.

vs 21

That's a lot of sword.

vs 22

But God isn't content with using one sword against another - he wants it marked out that he is involved a little more directly.

vs 23

When a huge army comes knocking and God smites them out of existence with fiery sulfur, if at that point you do not know he is the Lord, you're crazy.