How does Ezekiel 38:22 connect with God's past judgments in the Old Testament? Ezekiel 38:22—Text and Immediate Context “I will execute judgment on him with plague and bloodshed; I will pour out torrents of rain, hailstones, and burning sulfur on him and on his troops and on the many nations with him.” Gog’s massive coalition marches against Israel, yet God intervenes personally. The language God chooses is not new; it recalls earlier acts of judgment so vividly that any attentive reader is transported back through Scripture’s record of divine interventions. Echoes of Earlier Judgments—Element by Element • Plague and Bloodshed – Egypt’s plagues (Exodus 7–12) brought disease, boils, and the death of the firstborn. – Judgment on faithless Israel after the golden calf (Exodus 32:35) and David’s census (2 Samuel 24:15). – God often uses plague to halt rebellion quickly, underscoring His holiness. • Torrential Rain – The Flood (Genesis 6–7): “all the springs of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of the heavens were opened.” – Covenant promise never again to destroy all life by water (Genesis 9:11) does not forbid localized, targeted deluge against wicked armies. – Psalm 18:12–13 portrays God’s arrows and rain as weapons in battle. • Hailstones – Seventh plague on Egypt (Exodus 9:22–26): hail mixed with fire devastated crops and livestock. – Joshua 10:11: “the Lord hurled large hailstones” on the Amorites, killing more than Israel’s swords. – Isaiah 30:30: God’s voice “will come with raging anger and consuming fire, with cloudburst, downpour and hailstones.” • Burning Sulfur (Fire and Brimstone) – Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:24): “the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire.” – Deuteronomy 29:23 warns Israel that similar devastation could befall them if they forsake the covenant. – Psalm 11:6: “On the wicked He will rain fiery coals and burning sulfur.” Why God Reuses These Motifs • Continuity of Character – The same righteous Judge who acted in Genesis and Exodus now acts in Ezekiel; His standards never shift (Malachi 3:6). • Covenant Faithfulness – By echoing past deliverances, God reassures Israel that He remains their Defender (Exodus 14:14; Ezekiel 36:22). • Public Vindication – “Then they will know that I am the LORD” (Ezekiel 38:23). Repeated signs ensure the nations recognize His sovereignty. Takeaways for the Reader • God’s tools of judgment—plague, water, hail, fire—are consistent across history, underscoring His unchanging nature. • Past acts of judgment serve as patterns and warnings, demonstrating that future prophecies are neither novel nor unlikely. • Ezekiel 38:22 stitches the coming confrontation with Gog into the broader tapestry of redemptive history, reminding God’s people that He who judged in Genesis and Exodus will again act decisively to protect His name and His people. |
    |