Eze 38:12-13 | KingComments | STEP | For the second time the words “thus says the Lord GOD” ( ) are heard. The LORD says that He knows the deliberations of the heart of Gog. Nothing is hidden from Him, not even the deepest hidden thoughts. He knows exactly what Gog will say about going against His people ( ). Gog is perfectly aware of the situation in Israel, how the people live there completely unprotected and unconcerned (cf. ; ; ). He just doesn’t pay attention to the fact that the LORD is the Keeper of His people. Therefore, he makes haughty plans for a raid ( ). He is guided by greed. It is conceivable that Israel, through its victories over its enemies after the great tribulation, is a tremendously wealthy people, having acquired cattle and goods. That the people “live at the center of the world” is literally: “they live at the navel of the earth” ( ; cf. ). The land is the center of the earth, from which all blessing for the whole earth emanates. The land is geographically, globally speaking, the intersection of three continents: Europe, Asia, and Africa. There are other nations who do see profit in Gog’s enterprise ( ). They ask questions that show where their interest lies. These nations have escaped the judgments that have come on the earth and they have been spared without it having brought an inner change in them.

‏ Ezekiel 38:12-13

Deliberations of Gog

For the second time the words “thus says the Lord GOD” (Eze 38:10) are heard. The LORD says that He knows the deliberations of the heart of Gog. Nothing is hidden from Him, not even the deepest hidden thoughts. He knows exactly what Gog will say about going against His people (Eze 38:11). Gog is perfectly aware of the situation in Israel, how the people live there completely unprotected and unconcerned (cf. Eze 39:26; Jer 49:31; Zec 2:1-5). He just doesn’t pay attention to the fact that the LORD is the Keeper of His people.

Therefore, he makes haughty plans for a raid (Eze 38:12). He is guided by greed. It is conceivable that Israel, through its victories over its enemies after the great tribulation, is a tremendously wealthy people, having acquired cattle and goods. That the people “live at the center of the world” is literally: “they live at the navel of the earth” (Eze 5:5; cf. Deu 32:8). The land is the center of the earth, from which all blessing for the whole earth emanates. The land is geographically, globally speaking, the intersection of three continents: Europe, Asia, and Africa.

There are other nations who do see profit in Gog’s enterprise (Eze 38:13). They ask questions that show where their interest lies. These nations have escaped the judgments that have come on the earth and they have been spared without it having brought an inner change in them.