Good morning,
I don’t think it will be long before the Jewish people have a new holiday to celebrate. In the middle of next week the Jewish people will be celebrating an ancient holiday called Purim based on a series of events that almost brought an end to the people of promise. It was about 2,500 years ago that the Jewish people were facing complete extinction by a cruel man with a huge ego. His name was Haman and his plan was designed to eliminate a people who wouldn’t fear his authority. The plan was approved by the king and was made into a law that left the Jewish people without protection by the state. They were like sheep without a shepherd. What Haman didn’t realize was that they did have a Shepherd. Their Shepherd was the creator of the universe. God arranged to unravel their plans using a beautiful queen, Esther, and a faithful follower, Mordechai, to foil the plan and bring an end to the plot.
The stage is now set for another plan being put into place to accomplish this same goal possibly within months of this writing. The nations all around Israel are getting prepared to drive these people into the sea and eliminate any nation or people who would support them. They are training their people, stockpiling conventional weapons and developing weapons of mass destruction to get the job done once and for all. The western nations have backed away from their commitments to protect and support them. Again it looks like they are going to be left like sheep without a shepherd. What Israel’s enemies don’t realize is that the same Shepherd who saved them before is still alive and well and has promised to save Israel again. Ezekiel was given a prophetic message in chapters 38 and 39 that describes what the Lord has planned for these hate driven peoples who would dare to attack his special people. His description of the events describes how a leader from the North will lead these enemy nations against Israel and descend on the promised land like a vast cloud. Just when they think they have God’s people by the throat, God will send such judgment on them that they will be completely destroyed. It’s at that time that all the nations will know that the Creator is Israel’s Shepherd and God’s holiness has saved them again. I wonder what they will name their new holiday? (Please read these two chapters for more of the details)
Ezekiel 38:14 “Therefore, son of man, prophesy against Gog. Give him this message from the Sovereign LORD: When my people are living in peace in their land, then you will rouse yourself. 15 You will come from your homeland in the distant north with your vast cavalry and your mighty army, 16 and you will attack my people Israel, covering their land like a cloud. At that time in the distant future, I will bring you against my land as everyone watches, and my holiness will be displayed by what happens to you, Gog. Then all the nations will know that I am the LORD.
Roy Wisner
