Ezekiel

Ezekiel 35: God hears Edom’s hateful words

Begin in prayer

Before hearing God's answer to Edom's hatred, let us consider the words we speak about people in trouble. Ask Him to quiet our hearts and be near our family, teaching us to recognize Christ as we read Ezekiel 35.

Yahweh of Armies says: “I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I am jealous for her with great wrath.”

Zechariah 8:2

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Help us understand Your judgment against hateful pride and see Jesus, who brings guilty sinners forgiveness through His blood. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

God speaks against Mount Seir and all Edom for its enduring hostility toward Israel. It delivered Israel to the sword in the time of calamity, and God will make blood pursue it. Its mountains will fill with the slain, and its cities will remain desolate. Edom claims the two nations and countries as its own, though the LORD is there. God has heard its insults and boasts against Him, and He will answer its anger, envy and hatred. As it rejoiced over Israel's desolation, He will make Edom desolate while the whole earth rejoices.

As you read Ezekiel 35, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God hears Edom’s hateful words and answers its joy over Israel’s ruin with desolation.

Mount Seir names Edom's land, and the prophecy ends by including all Edom in God's judgment. Its enduring hatred becomes visible in giving Israel to the sword when calamity has already struck. God answers its refusal to hate blood by making blood pursue it, matching judgment to the wrong. Claiming Israel and Judah's countries treats their desolation as an opportunity to possess what Edom wants. Yet the LORD is there, so ruined cities give Edom no right to dismiss Him or claim His people's inheritance. God calls its insults against Israel words against Himself, exposing the deeper offense in its hateful boasting. Its anger, envy and hatred explain His judgment, and its pleasure in another's desolation returns upon its own land. The whole earth's rejoicing beside Edom's desolation shows how completely God will reverse the cruel joy He has heard.

How does Ezekiel 35 show us that God hears Edom’s hateful words and answers its joy over Israel’s ruin with desolation?

God judges enduring hatred shown in calamity.

Edom gives Israel to the sword in the time of trouble (verses 1 to 9). Because it has not hated blood, blood will pursue it. God will fill its mountains with the slain and make its cities uninhabited.

God hears words spoken against His people.

Edom claims the two nations and their countries, though the LORD is there (verses 10 to 13). He hears its insults against Israel's mountains. Its boasts are words against Him, and He will answer its anger and envy.

God answers cruel joy with desolation.

Edom rejoices because Israel's inheritance is desolate (verses 14 and 15). God will do to Edom as it did to Israel. Its own desolation will make the LORD known.

Memorize

I will lay your cities waste, and you shall be desolate; and you shall know that I am Yahweh.

Ezekiel 35:4

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, what hateful thought am I feeding? Do I need Jesus to change my heart?

God tells Edom, “You have magnified yourselves against me with your mouth”. The boasts over ruined Israel have reached His ears. Hatred toward His people and joy in their calamity cannot remain hidden from Him. Our own words also expose hearts that need His mercy.

Jesus was hated and rejected, yet gave Himself to redeem His people. He bore the punishment of their sins on the cross, dying in their place. His sacrifice has fully secured their reconciliation, and the work He finished is enough to save them. He rose from the dead and now calls guilty people to come to Him for life.

Please turn from your sin and trust the Lord Jesus. He promises forgiveness to every sinner who comes to Him, including those who have spoken in hatred. Confess the envy you have cherished. Ask Him for a changed heart that honors God in its thoughts and words.

Parent's note

Tell your children that God hears hateful words, and Jesus died and rose to save those who come to Him. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for hearing every word and offering mercy through Jesus, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

Who, when he was cursed, didn’t curse back. When he suffered, didn’t threaten, but committed himself to him who judges righteously;

1 Peter 2:23

Father, thank You for hearing the words that expose our hearts and for sending Jesus to save sinners. Forgive our envy and hateful speech, and help each one repent and trust Him. Please give us changed hearts that honor You and show compassion toward people whose lives are troubled. Amen.