Wed.’s Devo - God’s Holy Judgments

Read: Ezekiel 31:1-32:32; Hebrews 12:14-29; Psalm 113:1-114:8; Procures 27:18-20 In the eleventh year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity God gave a message to the Pharaoh of Egypt. The Pharaoh of Egypt was compared to the tallest tree - meaning that he was the most powerful king on the earth at the time. But, that was about to change. He had become so proud and arrogant because of his position. He would be destroyed because of his wickedness. *** The next year, Ezekiel gave the Pharaoh of Egypt another message. He compared him to a sea monster that was going to be caught in God’s net. His downfall would disturb the hearts of many when they saw it. It will put the fear of God in their hearts. God would send the army of Babylon against Egypt and destroy it completely, shattering its pride. *** Fourteen days later, Ezekiel told the Pharaoh that he was being sent to the hell, which was the world of the dead. It was a subterranean retreat which included inmates and the accessories. I would think that the accessories were chains, cells, and instruments of torture. The ones who struck terror in the hearts of people everywhere would be slaughtered by the sword and sent to their eternal torture. This was the fate of Meschech, Tubal, Edom, all the princes of the north and the Sidonians. When Pharaoh arrived in Sheol, he would take comfort in the fact that he is not the only one there. (What a comfort!) *** How different in comparison was the description in Hebrews of Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. When God’s saints gather there, it will be a joyful gathering with countless thousands of angels. All of God’s children whose names are written in the book of life will be there. We will meet with the spirits of the righteous who have been made perfect. Jesus and God will be there. *** This will not be like the meeting they had at Mt. Sinai with Moses and the children of Israel. They were shaking in fear of God and afraid of dying. Even Moses was terrified and trembling. Our meeting with God will not be like that; it will be wonderful and joyful. *** God is shaking the heavens and the earth right now, but we are of his kingdom that can not be shaken. Our response is thankfulness and worship with holy fear and awe. *** Lord, we thank you that you are a consuming fire that will burn up all your enemies. We thank you that we are your children safe in the refuge of your arms. May we live holy lives by the power of the Holy Spirit.