Ezekiel 35

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Nature hates hatred between people.  One of the hardest things to understand is how one person can live and have many relatives and they all hate the same person, the first person hated.  The descendants of Esua never met Jacob.  But the bitterness of their father Esua is expressed through many generations toward the children of Israel.  The only way hatred can be removed is by a transformation of God's Word given to us by the blood of Jesus Christ.

In this chapter God judges the rejoicing over a brother's fall.  God corrects those He loves and God's correction is painful.  When Esau saw Isreal great distress, Mount Seir, thought it was a time of rejoicing.  God brought an end to the bullying of Mount Seir against Mount Israel.

The lesson learned is vengeance is mine and the result are not to be celebrated.  The celebration should always be, it could have been me who finds themselves against the fist of God.  People will do us wrong, but the greater prize is you will never be separated from God for a moment in life.  Eternal life with God is priceless.

Again a message came to me from the LORD: 

"Son of man, turn and face Mount Seir, and prophesy against its people. 

Who are the people of Mount Seir?  The people of Mount Seir are the descendants of Isaac, the son of Abraham. Esau is Jacob's twin brother. (Genesis 25 gives details) Esau's descendants are the people God is speaking to when He mentions the people of Mount Seir.  There has been turmoil from Esau toward Jacob for many years.

Give them this message from the Sovereign LORD: "I am your enemy, O Mount Seir, and I will raise my fist against you to destroy you completely. 

I will demolish your cities and make you desolate. Then you will know that I am the LORD. 

"Your eternal hatred for the people of Israel led you to butcher them when they were helpless, when I had already punished them for all their sins. 

When Israel was helpless, Esau's descendants or first cousins were afflicted with more pain on Israel; other nations were glad they were being removed to enter into exile.

Esau knew Israel because of their close blood relationship, but they refused to show remorse or compassion even though Israel were being punished for their sins.  Mount Seir took advantage of their weakness and God is showing them what it is like to be weak and bullied all at the same time.  God is not bullying them, He is punishing them for their misbehavior toward their brothers.

As surely as I live, says the Sovereign LORD, since you show no distaste for blood, I will give you a bloodbath of your own. Your turn has come! 

The people of Mount Seir did not show compassion and took many lives; now God is allowing them to reap what was sown.

I will make Mount Seir utterly desolate, killing off all who try to escape and any who return. 

I will fill your mountains with the dead. Your hills, your valleys, and your ravines will be filled with people slaughtered by the sword. 

I will make you desolate forever. Your cities will never be rebuilt. Then you will know that I am the LORD. 

God has been dealing with the children of Esau for many years, but now He is bringing judgment on a nation whose hatred runs deep toward his twin brother.  God is showing us that hatred has no place in our lives, even if we feel, we have been done wrong.

"For you said, 'The lands of Israel and Judah will be ours. We will take possession of them. What do we care that the LORD is there!' 

Therefore, as surely as I live, says the Sovereign LORD, I will pay back your angry deeds with my own. I will punish you for all your acts of anger, envy, and hatred. And I will make myself known to Israel by what I do to you. 

God promised this land to Israel, and no one will ever make is promise of no effect.  The land belongs to Israel not Israel brother Esau.

Then you will know that I, the LORD, have heard every contemptuous word you spoke against the mountains of Israel. For you said, 'They are desolate; they have been given to us as food to eat!' 

In saying that, you boasted proudly against me, and I have heard it all! 

God said you spoke and I heard.  If God said He saw or heard believe Him.  

"This is what the Sovereign LORD says: The whole world will rejoice when I make you desolate. 

The whole world will be glad to know the enemy of My people is non-existence.

You rejoiced at the desolation of Israel's territory. Now I will rejoice at yours! You will be wiped out, you people of Mount Seir and all who live in Edom! Then you will know that I am the LORD.

When My wrath has completed its job on you for all you have done, You will know that I am God.