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Daily Devotions

Ezekiel

Ezekiel 
Day 
Day 404

"I will turn you around"

Text: Ezekiel 38:4

THE ENEMIES OF ISRAEL

A short list of the enemies of Israel is noted in this text. Some countries are easily identified. Other countries are not as easy to identify. Nevertheless, they are the enemies of Israel prophetically.

“I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws,
and lead you out, with all your army,
horses, and horsemen, all splendidly clothed,
a great company with bucklers and shields,
all of them handling swords.
Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya are with them,
all of them with shield and helmet;
Gomer and all its troops;
the house of Togarmah from the far north and all its troops—
many people are with you.”
Ezekiel 38:4-6

1. The enemies were all splendidly clothed.

a) They came with armies.

b) They had horses and horsemen (cavalry).

c) Together, they formed a great company.

d) They were certainly well-armed:

i) Bucklers (small shields)

ii) Shields (large ones)

iii) Swords

2. Geographical locations.

a) Gog comes from the far north (Eze 38:15).

b) Persian was east of Israel.

c) Ethiopia was south of Israel.

d) Libya was west of Israel.

e) Gomer is thought to be Cappadocia (in modern day Turkey).

f) The house of Torgamah is thought to be Armenia (north of Israel).

g) The picture described is that Israel would face enemies from all sides (North, South, East and West).

3. God still has sovereignty

a) God will turn them around.

b) The enemies are compared to wild beasts that are led by hooks in their jaws.

c) God has absolute control over a war scenario that seems to be heavily weighted against Israel.