Eze 38:15-16 | KingComments | STEP | Gog’s evil deliberations, but known to the LORD, are reason for commanding Ezekiel again to prophesy against Gog ( ). For the third time it sounds seriously “thus says the Lord GOD” to Gog. He tells Gog that on the day he will be in Israel, he will come to know that the LORD knows and governs all things. Then the LORD will make it known to him that He knows and has known everything and that this enemy has come from the uttermost north with a huge army to cover His people and the land like a cloud ( ). The time is also known to the LORD. The time is not only known by Him, but is determined by Him. He controls everything so that He uses Gog to make Himself known to the nations through him and to sanctify Himself before their eyes. The Divine purpose is above all else. In carrying out His purpose, God also uses the low motives of man. We see the same thing in what Isaiah says about the invasion by Assyria ( ) and in what Habakkuk says about Babylon ( ). God does not activate man’s sinful will, but He uses man’s active sinful will. What Gog intends as a victory for Himself is made by God into an opportunity to glorify Himself.

‏ Ezekiel 38:15-16

Gog and His Allies

Gog’s evil deliberations, but known to the LORD, are reason for commanding Ezekiel again to prophesy against Gog (Eze 38:14). For the third time it sounds seriously “thus says the Lord GOD” to Gog. He tells Gog that on the day he will be in Israel, he will come to know that the LORD knows and governs all things.

Then the LORD will make it known to him that He knows and has known everything and that this enemy has come from the uttermost north with a huge army to cover His people and the land like a cloud (Eze 38:15-16). The time is also known to the LORD. The time is not only known by Him, but is determined by Him. He controls everything so that He uses Gog to make Himself known to the nations through him and to sanctify Himself before their eyes.

The Divine purpose is above all else. In carrying out His purpose, God also uses the low motives of man. We see the same thing in what Isaiah says about the invasion by Assyria (Isa 10:5-12) and in what Habakkuk says about Babylon (Hab 1:5-11). God does not activate man’s sinful will, but He uses man’s active sinful will. What Gog intends as a victory for Himself is made by God into an opportunity to glorify Himself.