Wordlisteners June 13,2010 Ezekiel 30-33:20

We had seven for wordlisteners. Generally the discussion was about how much like present times was all the prophesy of God toward Pharaoh and Assyria and ultimately Israel. If we take our sights off of God then we are in trouble. God merely ignoring us will make our lives miserable.

Our next meeting is next week -June 20

Here are my notes:
Ezekiel 30

Egypt is to be destroyed, the Lord is prophesying it ahead of time, because it is unbelievable. When it happens they'll know He is God. End times are like that looking at it in the natural, it seems so far fetched. A fetching away, Jesus coming to earth to establish His kingdom, they can be hard to believe in light of what we have experienced, but it will happen and when it does we'll know that God said it. Then He brought it to pass.
Ethiopia will be included and it will happen at the hands of Nebuchadnezzar. Then drought and desolation. He is not doing it from meanness, but rather He is pouring out His wrath because of their actions (our). Men slain and women taken into captivity.
The arm of the Egyptian king will be broken, which means the Egyptians will be powerless to prevent the onslaught of the Babylonians. The Lord is using the Babylonians to execute His judgments, and the Egyptians will be scattered. The scattering will be so unbelievable that they will know the Lord is God. Their pride as being the premier kingdom, and it was at one time will be reduced to those scattered and living in captivity- completely ignored by God (Oswald Chambers). God will show who He is.

Ezekiel 31

Pharaoh is warned of Assyria's fate. A nation built by God, magnificent and unmatched by the cedars in God's garden. The trees of Eden were jealous. But the heart of Assyria became haughty (prideful) so the Lord gave it to another nation to be destroyed. Pride and haughtiness is something we all deal with. We often will say something about our doing this or that and not acknowledge God's blessing on our lives. Or we get so sure of our plans that we neglect that God is the one in control, and our plans only happen if He allows them. Elevating ourselves and forgetting God is wickedness and He will deal with it.
Is this another facet of the teaching of Job? Bad things happening to us doesn't mean we are bad, they may be tests. Forgetting God or elevating ourselves above Him means we will be ignored by God. He will remove His favor, and that is all He has to do, its terribly fearful to think of those that deny God and press against His goads, but then expect the attributes of following God to still apply.
Assyria will be humbled for their pride, and so will Egypt. Nothing of any greatness (that God has given) will last unless God says so.
In leaving a former position I left things I felt would help the new person. The person I replaced at the new job did the same. In both cases more was left than would be used, so in these examples it is clear that our legacy or pride creeps in. Its very easy to become prideful.

Ezekiel 32

Now Pharaoh and Egypt will be judged for their pride, or maybe just the blessings removed. Great death and destruction is in store. Darkness in the land. Other kings will be fearful, if great Egypt can fall- what about them? This is not unlike us looking up to another – a Christian we deeply respect. Then we find out they aren't perfect, and none are, and we get crushed. In looking at them we take our eyes off of God. In looking at Egypt the nations became fearful of their security. God brings about the true security, and the people of Judah forgot that, they looked to Egypt.
Egypt is going to Sheol to join Assyria and Elam. Dead among the uncircumcised-those not chosen of God. Meshech Tubal and Edom, and the Sidonians. Not a place of honor, but a place where the mighty end up, those that won't bow their will to God. Those who want things their way. Slain by the sword of those that God wields.

Ezekiel 33

A watchman is appointed to warn the people. He is responsible for warning the people, the choice they make when they hear the warning is their own. God will make sure that His intentions are known such that people will have to make a choice about His way (life) or their way (death).
As for the people appointed to inform of God's message, they also have a choice. These are the prophets, they speak the message from God. These messengers can be false prophets or true prophets. A true prophet (according to Oswald Chambers) stood for the condemnation of people, whereas a false prophet speaks of their exoneration. It comes down to the condition of the human heart if an appointed person thinks there is any good there he is false. The true prophet knows the true condition of man's heart. Jonah comes to mind, he prophesied the destruction of Ninevah, which didn't happen because of true repentance and God's mercy. Yet he wasn't a false prophet because he spoke to the true condition of men's heart – deserving destruction.
As messengers we are appointed to speak of the true condition of the hearts of men. Any good we think we see should be a praise to God that He is working in that person or nation. It does not change their heart condition, it is rather a point of surrender they have personally chosen to make to God and His light is shining through. To say there is good in a man's heart is also saying there are areas that he/she doesn't have to choose to submit to God's will rather than self. Clearly false. Our desires need to align with the desires of God, when they do our prayers are assured answers.
Ezekiel was appointed a watchman, and he was submitted to God to the point that he faithfully did what God asked. What he was asked to do was warn people of their wickedness. Only in admitting their wickedness can there be true repentance. He was given a message for the people, and he gave it to them. To have a message from God and not proclaim it is disobedience, and a sign of not being submitted to God, therefore the punishment due the wicked is deserved.
The message has to get out there, and God will find those that will put it out there. It still comes down to personal choice – a following of God's ways or self. Once the message is out there a turning to God from self is possible (repentance). When someone does repent which is a change in life direction, God is ready to offer mercy and life. He takes no pleasure in the death of any. He initiates it with us all and we have to choose to respond.
Its not a once and done proposition though, God will continue to initiate to us by showing us other areas where we haven't submitted or haven't shown the actions of submission to God. He wants us completely submitted. Submitting to Him in some areas (showing righteousness) but then not others is really saying to Him that we aren't fully submitted. Therefore we are deserving of death. On the other hand, at any point turning from wickedness to His way puts us on the path of life. The turning from wickedness is not just a mind thing or verbal it requires actions or sacrifice of self – making amends or restitution.
As selfish people this continual growth seems not fair, we want to settle it once and for all. If we have fully submitted to God it is settled once and for all. If we want to gain life and yet hold onto self, then it is a sign that we haven't settled it. God is ready even when we're not. He wants it settled once and for all the choice is ours, do we? His sacrifice was once and accounts for all, our commitment needs to be similar.