May 19, Ezekiel 35
"Because you said, 'These two nations and these two countries shall be mine, and we will take possession of them’— although the LORD was there—“ - Ezekiel 35:10
The word miscalculation surely must have its origin in mathematics, when a math error produced a wrong answer. You've probably experienced a few of these in your lifetime. So have I. Maybe it was on an actual math test at school, or it could have been an embarrassing error in your checkbook. We also say people miscalculated when some error in judgment led to an unintended and unexpected outcome in some procedure. It sounds like this: "I hurt my back when I miscalculated the weight of that box." Or, "I'm sorry I am so late. I miscalculated how long it would take in today’s traffic.”
Jesus talked about the danger of miscalculating when he warned would-be disciples to count the cost of following him. He spoke of a fellow who started a building project, but ran out of money before he could finish the work. Sometimes miscalculations are not math errors. Perhaps we overlooked some important factor that turned a big decision into a bad decision.
The people of Edom were delighted when both Israel and Judah fell to their enemies and went away into captivity. The Edomites, descendants of Esau, despised their Israelite cousins, descendants of Jacob. The Edomites were glad to assist the invading Babylonians and Chaldeans when Nebuchadnezzar came against Jerusalem. They celebrated the defeat of their long-time enemy. When the land of Israel lay desolate, the Edomites figured it was a good time to move into and take over the land that Israel and Judah had once occupied. There was no one home to resist their annexation plan. But they miscalculated about that. The people were gone, but "the LORD was there."
Chapter 35 is the second condemnation of Edom in the book of Ezekiel. God foretold the destruction of the Edomites and the desolation of their land. He judged and punished them for aiding Judah’s enemies, cheering when Jerusalem fell and moving into the desolate land of Judah.
God overcame the false security of Jerusalem's residents who imagined they could never fall. Just so, God also thwarted the Edomites' plan to claim the land for themselves. Neither Edom nor any other nation could stop God or change his plan to bring a remnant of Israel back to live in their land.
Edom's words against Judah were also words that blasphemed God. For their blasphemy, hatred and celebration of Israel's troubles, God would strike down the mountain fortress of Seir. It would be Edom, not Judah, that would be desolate when God returned the remnant to the land after the captivity in Babylon ended.
It is no mark of intelligence to deny God's existence or to underestimate his power. It is a foolish miscalculation to think that God does not mean what he says. We make a serious miscalculation when we perceive that our way and will is better for us than God's will would be.
In the New Testament, James warned against making plans for the future without considering the Lord's will. We need to remember that whenever and wherever we choose to disobey or disregard God, "the Lord is there.” When we really believe that God is omnipresent (everywhere) and sovereign (in complete control), we will make fewer miscalculations and better choices.
Copyright © 2024 by Michael B. McElroy. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Today in God's Word—May 2024
East Tallassee Church of Christ
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