Good day Believers in Christ Jesus. You are all welcome to another new day. We thank God for the gift of life.
In our today’s episode 565 of studying and understanding the Bible, we shall be looking into the book of Ezekiel Chapter 35 titled:
This Is Shocking! Why Would Some People Choose To Hate So Much?
Chapter 35 is a continuation of Ezekiel’s message in Chapter 25:12-14, where he released the prophecy of judgement against Edom.
Recall that the Edomites were the descendants of Esau, who hated his brother Jacob for supplanting him by hijacking his birth right through deceit. (Genesis 27).
From that moment on, Esau began to hate his brother and that hatred was transferred from one Esau’s generation to another to the point that anywhere the Edomites heard about the descendants of Jacob also known as the Israelites, they always ensured they took revenge on them as much as possible.
Below are some instances of how the Edomites (Esau’s descendants) have been taking revenge on the Israelites (Jacob’s descendants):
After the time the Israelites were rescued from Egypt, they began to match on to the promised land, they got to a place called Kadesh, which was a town at the border of the territory of Edom. Message was sent to the Edomites requesting permission to pass through their main road in order to get to where they were going.
Unfortunately, the Edomites refused. Another message was sent to them, still they refused and even threatened the Israelites with war. The Israelites were forced to take another route. Read Numbers 20:14-21 for more details.
This is what happens when parents decide to feed the minds of their children with bitterness of the past which leads to hatred. As a matter of fact, this is one of the major causes of tribalism and racism. Nobody was born a racist, racism or tribalism was learned and can be unlearned.
It was this singular hurt of the past between Esau and Jacob that led to both tribes fighting so many wars.
During the time Saul became the King of Israel, the Edomites opposed him and they fought but Saul won the battle. Read 1 Samuel 14:47
In 2Samuel 8:12, the Bible records that King David and Edom fought in a battle, and David won.
During the time of King Solomon also in 1 King 11:14-22, Hadad, a prince from the royal family of the Edomites revolted against King Solomon but lost the battle. The Bible says he was a bitter enemy of Israel.
In 2 Chronicles 20:2, the Bible says a large army from Edom came to attack the people Israel when Jehoshaphat was the King to the point that Jehoshaphat became frightened, but summon courage and prayed to God and they eventually won the battle by singing praises to God. Read 2Chr 20:21-30.
Even after the Kingdom of Israel split into two, the Edomites were still fighting both Kingdoms. They became a sworn enemy of both kingdoms.
That is why in 2Kings 8:21 when Jehoram became the King of Judah (the Southern Kingdom of Israel), they became surrounded by the armies of Edom, but during the night-time, the King of Judah managed to escape.
As part of their revenge spree, the Edomites kept on attacking the land of Judah. They even captured many prisoners until Ahaz had to call the emperor of Assyria for help. Read 2 Chronicles 28:17. Unfortunately, help did not come, because the people of Judah were living in sin at that time and so their enemies were gaining upper hand.
The above and many more were the terrible things the Edomites did to their siblings (Israel) just because their forefathers told them bitter stories of the past event that happened between Esau and Jacob.
This was why God sent His prophets to warn them probably they would repent, but no, they were unyielding. Prophet Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Amos and several others called them out and warned them to stop behaving like an arch enemy of Israel.
And that’s why chapter 35 is repeating the same prophecies making the Edomites realize that their payback time has come.
Lessons To Learn
Advise to parents: never sow seed of animosity and hostility in the mind of your children against any family because of past hurt or offence. As a believer in Christ, who already has the nature of God, we must grow up to the point of loving people the way God loves humanity.
Has anybody offended you in the past and you are saying until you both get to heaven that the matter will be resolved? This is a mindset of someone controlled by unforgiving spirit. Such person is not yet born again.
If God should be keeping records of all the wrongs, we have done against Him and against humanity, who do you think will be able to stand?
There are some people who are supposed to have moved higher in the ladder of success, but for the fact that they have refused to forgive and let go, they kept on nursing that hatred and bitterness and the devil keeps on pressing them down and blocking their breakthrough.
The last time I checked Galatians 5:20, hatred was still in the list of the works of the flesh. No where in the Bible was it listed as the fruit of the spirit. Does that ring any bell? Let’s amend please.
The point is, as Believers in Christ, we forgive people because God forgave us. So, let’s do away with hatred, animosity, hostility, bitterness and all works of the flesh and let’s embrace the Love of God that covereth all sins.
To be continued…stay tuned and stay blessed.
Let us Pray:
The Edomites blocked the way of the Israelites to the promised land at their first attempt. I declare, every force of darkness trying to block your path to your promotion, be rendered to nought. Every satanic agent planning to hide your file for your recommendation to that higher position, they will all be exposed and put to shame and your entitlement shall be delivered unto you, in Jesus name.
Every catapult of animosity that the devil is hurling against you or your family, be destroyed right now, in Jesus name.
Every force of limitation preventing you from reaching your goal and the purpose of God for you in this life, such forces be arrested and rendered powerless, in Jesus name.
Bible Readings For Today: Reflection time on all the chapters you have read from the past six days and covering of missed chapters.
I call you blessed now and always.
Wednesday October 14, 2020 (DDMI)
