In Ezekiel 35:4-5, the Lord said of Edom, “I shall lay your cities waste, and you shall be desolate. Then you shall know that I am the Lord. Because you have had an ancient hatred and have shed the blood of the children of Israel by the power of the sword at the time of their calamity when their iniquity came to an end.”
Edom harbored hatred for a long time against Israel... going back to the time when Jacob deceived Edom (Esau) out of his birthright. Edom’s descendants... his nation had not forgiven Jacob (Israel). Edom also had sin. We all do. Unforgiveness and hatred does no one any good. It is from the devil. The devil destroys. Jesus gives life. Esau should have forgiven his brother Jacob and instructed his descendants to do the same.
In Ezekiel 35:10-12, Edom harbored plans to rob Israel. “Because you have said, ‘These two nations and these two countries (Israel and Judah) shall be mine, and we will possess them,’ although the Lord was there, therefore, as I live, says the Lord God, I will do according to your anger and according to the envy which you showed in your hatred against them; and I will make Myself known among them when I judge you. Then you shall know that I am the Lord.”
It is not that Israel was better than Edom, the Lord says in Ezekiel 36:17-18 that Israel’s way was like the uncleanness of a woman in her customary impurity to Him, that is why He poured out His fury on them. They shed blood for their idols and defiled the land. The Lord was taking action on them for the sake of His great Name which Israel had profaned by their behavior.
“Therefore, say to the house of Israel, thus says the Lord God: I do not do this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy Name’s sake, which you have profaned among the nations wherever you went. And I will sanctify My great Name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the Lord, says the Lord God, when I am hallowed in you before their eyes.” Ezekiel 36:22-23
Furthermore, the Lord was going to cleanse Israel from her idolatrous ways and give her a new heart and a new spirit. The Lord said in Ezekiel 36:27, “I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.” In Ezekiel 36:28-31, He delivers them from their uncleannesses. He calls for the grain to multiply, trees and fields to produce. He helps them to remember their evil ways and deeds that were not good, and to loathe themselves for their iniquities and abominations. To repent and be forgiven!
It is in the great Name of Jesus Christ that God saves. His Name is worthy of all glory. His Name was never defiled by acts of sin which He committed because He never sinned. Those who profess faith in the Name of Jesus have their names written in heaven.
Acts 4:8-12 says, “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: ‘Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Jesus is the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.’”
In Romans 10:9-10, the Apostle Paul wrote, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”
It is in the Name of Jesus that God rescues Israel and Gentile nations from sin.
In Luke 13:35, Jesus told the Pharisees, “Behold, your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see Me until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord!’” Praising the Name of Jesus is the best route to take both for one’s well-being and because His Name is worthy to be praised. No one else lived a sinless life and then, offered up Himself to be an atoning sacrifice for the sins of all people. Only Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior did that! Praise be to His holy Name!
When God removes sin, He replaces curses of sin with blessings of righteousness.
“Thus says the Lord God: on the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will also enable you to dwell in the cities, and the ruins shall be rebuilt. The desolate land shall be tilled instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass by. So they will say this land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden; and the wasted, desolate, and ruined cities are now fortified and inhabited. Then the nations which are left all around you shall know that I, the Lord, have rebuilt the ruined places and planted what was desolate. I, the Lord, have spoken it, and I will do it.” Ezekiel 36:33-36
“... so shall the ruined cities be filled with flocks of men. Then they shall know that I am the Lord.” Ezekiel 36:38
“Thus says the Lord God: on the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will also enable you to dwell in the cities, and the ruins shall be rebuilt. The desolate land shall be tilled instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass by. So they will say this land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden; and the wasted, desolate, and ruined cities are now fortified and inhabited. Then the nations which are left all around you shall know that I, the Lord, have rebuilt the ruined places and planted what was desolate. I, the Lord, have spoken it, and I will do it.” Ezekiel 36:33-36
“... so shall the ruined cities be filled with flocks of men. Then they shall know that I am the Lord.” Ezekiel 36:38
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