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Daily Devotions

Ezekiel

Ezekiel 
Day 
Day 403

"Set your face against Gog"

Text: Ezekiel 38:2

A COMPLEX PROPHECY

Ezekiel 38 is a vastly complex prophecy given by God to Ezekiel. Israel had many enemies, and they were well-known. Daniel prophesied about enemies that would arise. Apart from the Babylonians, Daniel forewarned the rise of three other empires, namely, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome.

Ezekiel prophesied of new enemies that would arise. However, these new enemies are difficult to identify. They were not the enemies already mentioned.

“Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
‘Son of man, set your face against Gog,
of the land of Magog,
the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal,
and prophesy against him, and say,
‘Thus says the Lord God:
‘Behold, I am against you, O Gog,
the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal.”'”
Ezekiel 38:1-3

1. A new prophetic word from the Lord.

a) God is the Source of all prophecies.

b) Some of these prophecies had cryptic names.

c) They cannot be easily identified.

2. Gog, of the land of Magog.

a) He is called “the prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal”.

i) He is mistakenly identified as Russia.

ii) Because they sound alike.

iii) This approach is not sound hermeneutics.

iv) It does not rule out Russia as a potential enemy.

v) But it is not a direct reference to Russia.

b) Rosh

i) It can mean the “head prince”.

ii) He is certainly the one that leads the pack of enemies.

c) Magog simply means “The place of Gog”.

d) He is the leader (the prince) of at least three regions.

3. Names

a) Magog

b) Meshech

c) Tubal

d) These were listed as the sons of Japheth (Genesis 10:2).

e) But these names were never seen as a threat to Israel.

4. The most important word.

a) New enemies may arise.

b) They may be powerful enemies.

c) It is comforting to know God’s promises.

i) God would be with His people.

ii) The Messianic Prince would be with them.

iii) God would be their sanctuary.

iv) He will be against the prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal.

v) That God will be with His people is enough to bring comfort and peace of mind.