Ezekiel 35:10 - Homiletics

A miscalculation.

Edom had taken for granted that she, in conjunction with the allied nations, no doubt, would be able to seize the territories of Israel and Judah. She had calculated her resources and matched her strength against those of her foes. But she had forgotten one essential element in the reckoning—she had failed to take any account of the presence of God. This was a fatal blunder, and it upset the whole scheme. It is very common for people to discuss their prospects with the same mistake in their minds. Worldly reasoning that ignores God is not only irreligious; it is false and foolish. Irreligious thought is bad logic.

I. A SELFISH GREED . Edom covets the fair and fruitful land of Israel. This is the common spirit of national plunder. It is the spirit of the veiled warfare of commerce. Men and nations hunger after their neighbors' property. All selfish persons are robbers at heart, though many are restrained by prudential considerations from carrying out their evil desires. Now, the prevalence of this selfish greed gives a very ugly look to the world, and suggests the thought that the weak must be the prey of the strong. It is only when we can look above the scramble for wealth that we can discern the play of higher influences on man's history and destiny.

II. A NARROW VIEW . Edom sees the weakness of Israel clearly enough; and she makes no mistake in estimating the strength of herself and her allies. But she confines her view to these local and earthly facts. Here is the limitation of all worldliness. Men of the world are keen and clear-headed. They see distinctly their points of advantage, and seize them quickly. But their gaze is confined to earthly things. Thus worldliness is essentially low and narrow. It has a sharp vision, but it is very short-sighted. There are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamed of in its philosophy.

III. A DIVINE FACT . "The Lord was there." This was a fact, although Edom knew nothing of it, just as God was at Bethel before Jacob recognized his presence.

1. God is in human affairs . It is not simply asserted that God interfered from a distance. He was present. Palestine was a God-haunted land. The difference between Israel and Edom was not merely racial or geographical. It was chiefly this—that God manifested his presence to the one people as he did not to the other.

2. God takes an active part in the world . God was not merely in Palestine as a spectator. He was present to act. Edom's error was in not recognizing a real influence. It is like that of the naturalist who dissects a brain to discover the secret of thought, but takes no account of the mind that once inhabited the brain. God is now present actively in the world, not in Palestine especially, but

IV. A NEEDED CORRECTION . The Divine element must be introduced if the miscalculation is to be corrected. This will make a surprising difference to Edom's reckoning. So it will in individual affairs. The oppressing Pharaoh did not reckon on God's power to save Israel; the rich fool counted up his wealth, but forgot that his life was in God's hand ( Luke 12:16-21 ). Life and death are more dependent on heavenly influences than moat men suppose. We need a new order of reasoning, a fresh arithmetic that shall not fail to give a large place to the influence of God on air things.