The Last Person You Would Expect

Ezekiel 26:1–27:36; Revelation 13:1–10; Job 36:13–23

Yahweh is capable of doing anything and everything He pleases. If He were not a good God, this would be deeply frightening, but considering His wonderful character, this is comforting.

 

In Ezekiel 26:1–6, Yahweh describes the sins of Tyre and His plans against the powerful Phoenician city-state. The people of Tyre are arrogant. They do as they please, usually to the detriment of other people. Yahweh refuses to put up with this any longer. When He finally destroys Tyre, He does it through unexpected means: Nebuchadnezzar, king of the Neo-Babylonian empire from 605–562 BCE. Despite Nebuchadnezzar’s cruel and ruthless nature, Yahweh uses him to enact punishment on Tyre (Ezek. 26:7).

 

Stories like this make me wonder how written prophecy would look today. How often would we see God use people without their realizing it? How many evil-hearted people have been used for a larger and better purpose?

 

We’re never really certain how God is acting. We learn bits of information through prayer and the Bible, but only He knows what outcome He will produce. We know the trajectory—Christ’s full reign on earth and the admonishment of evil (e.g., the destruction of the beast in Rev. 13:1–10)—but we don’t know precisely how that will play out.

 

There is no easy answer to this perplexing question, but what is certain is that Yahweh will ultimately carry out His will in the world. And His will might come in unexpected ways. No one can know the mind of God but God Himself. So, when we pray, let’s pray for the miracle, not for the means.

How do you perceive God acting in your life and the lives of others? What miracle should you be praying for?

John D. Barry