Please explain Ezekiel 38:10-12.
Ezekiel 38 describes how many people and nations will attack Israel in a future day. Verse 2 states, “Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal,” will be among the attackers. Other aggressors are mentioned in verses 4-5, which state, “Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet: Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee.”
Verse 16 shows that these armies will be attacking Israel in a future day. This verse reads, “And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes.”
The Lord describes in verses 10-12 what these attacking nations will be thinking and saying as they plan to go against Israel. “Thus saith the Lord God; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought: And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates, To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land.”
These verses remind me of Amos 4:13. “For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is his thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, The Lord, The God of hosts, is his name.” We also read in Psalm 139:2, “Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.” In Luke 6:8 we read about the Lord Jesus, that “He knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And He arose and stood forth.” God knows our thoughts, understands our thoughts, and tells mankind what his thoughts will be before he even has them! May we believers, through the power of the Holy Spirit, think on the things mentioned in Philippians 4:8. “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
The Lord not only tells the attacking nations what their thoughts and words will be in verses 10-12 of Ezekiel 38. Jehovah goes on to tell them in Ezekiel 39 how He will destroy them. God is in control and His purposes will be carried out. We can trust Him for our soul’s salvation and for every moment of our lives. (310.4) (DJ)