Ezekiel 35:5-15 - You boasted against me

35:5-9

“Because you harboured an ancient hostility”. Edom had long been an enemy of Israel. Esau and Jacob had been enemies, though there was some reconciliation later, and one can hardly blame Esau for a bad attitude towards Jacob! Neither Esau nor Jacob merited God’s favour! However, God promises to bring judgement upon Edom. There are two warnings we can take from this. The first is that nations that harbour hostility towards Israel need to beware and should change their attitude. Is Israel perfect? Far from it. She is one of the most atheistic nations on earth, and the Bible makes abundantly clear that God is fully aware of the sins of Israel. But God will save Israel because of His grace. Then there is a more general lesson. We should beware of holding grudges against anyone, whether an individual or a group of people. God does not look favourably upon this approach. 

35:10-15

Edom would receive the judgement she deserved. She thought she could take possession of the two nations. She saw the Babylonian situation as an opportunity. “Even though I the Lord was there”. Israel and Judah, the two nations, belonged to God. God was judging them as they deserved, but He had not abandoned them. We should beware of gloating over others, for we do not know what God’s long term plans for them are. “I have heard all the contemptible things ...” God knows all that we say, think and do, nothing is hidden from Him. They also spoke against God Himself.