Topic: Averting God’s Wrath [Wednesday November 8, 2017]
Text: Ezekiel 21:18-32
Key Verse: “And thou, son of man, prophesy and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD concerning the Ammonites, and concerning their reproach; even say thou, The sword, the sword is drawn: for the slaughter it is furbished, to consume because of the glittering” (Ezekiel 21:28)
There are many judgments in the Holy Bible that precede the final judgment God will bring upon the unrepentant world. These smaller judgments that reveal His anger against people, nations and their rulers only point to and serve as warning to sinners and backsliders to “flee from the wrath to come”.
Prophet Ezekiel here relates a graphic account of how the Ammonite nation and Judah were judged for the sins of disobedience and revolt against the commandment of God. He had warned through Prophet Jeremiah that He would give Judah and other nations into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon and that there should be no resistance to him. Unfortunately, in 589BC, during Babylon’s campaign to fulfil God’s prophecy, Judah and Ammon rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar. The men and women of Judah who were in exile in Babylon were elated when they heard the news of the uprising, wrongly believing it meant the end of their captivity. They could not be right because God had decreed a 70-year captivity as punishment for their sins. He therefore sent Ezekiel to let the captives understand that the king of Babylon would crush the revolt. Every detail of Ezekiel’s prediction came to pass.
Man cannot get away with sin and mock divine prophecy. It amounts to displaying a shallow understanding of the righteous Judge of heaven and earth to presume in these last days that all things will (always) continue as they were from the beginning of creation. God says in Isaiah 13:11: “And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity…” It is only by genuine repentance, faith in Jesus, our Lord and Saviour, and righteous living that one can escape His wrath.
Thought for the day: Accept the Son (Jesus) lest He (God) be angry and ye perish from the way…”
Bible Reading in one Year: Isaiah 30-33
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
