ANCIENT HOSTILITY
By: Pastor Matt Morgan
Because you harbored an ancient hostility and delivered the Israelites over to the sword at the time of their calamity, the time their punishment reached its climax, therefore as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I will give you over to bloodshed and it will pursue you. Since you did not hate bloodshed, bloodshed will pursue you.
Ezekiel 35:5-6 NIV
The Edomites had a perpetual hatred towards Israel. The name “edom” has the word “blood” in it. God is saying, “Just like your name, blood will follow you.” Here God addresses a transgression common amongst us all, bitterness. The hatred that is so deep has morphed into an ancient hostility. Offenses burrow into our hearts with one desire— to become timeless.
When we become hurt, we enlist support. We nurse and rehearse the painful moment, giving it more and more weight and sustainability. It is no longer the offense that hurts us, it’s the bitterness. The hurt was painful; the bitterness is lethal. Every toxic detail engraved into our memory becomes more that we and our posterity must reconcile.
God requires forgiveness! Forgive because you have been forgiven! Ask God for the supernatural ability to forgive. Philippians 4:13 states that we don't have the capability in ourselves to forgive others, but God can empower us to forgive those who have hurt us.
Now pray for the person you must forgive. I know, easier said than done. This will begin the healing process, not for them, but within you. Your relationship with God is so much more important than your strife with man. As God has forgiven you, in obedience forgive others.
Because you harbored an ancient hostility and delivered the Israelites over to the sword at the time of their calamity, the time their punishment reached its climax, therefore as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I will give you over to bloodshed and it will pursue you. Since you did not hate bloodshed, bloodshed will pursue you.
Ezekiel 35:5-6 NIV
The Edomites had a perpetual hatred towards Israel. The name “edom” has the word “blood” in it. God is saying, “Just like your name, blood will follow you.” Here God addresses a transgression common amongst us all, bitterness. The hatred that is so deep has morphed into an ancient hostility. Offenses burrow into our hearts with one desire— to become timeless.
When we become hurt, we enlist support. We nurse and rehearse the painful moment, giving it more and more weight and sustainability. It is no longer the offense that hurts us, it’s the bitterness. The hurt was painful; the bitterness is lethal. Every toxic detail engraved into our memory becomes more that we and our posterity must reconcile.
God requires forgiveness! Forgive because you have been forgiven! Ask God for the supernatural ability to forgive. Philippians 4:13 states that we don't have the capability in ourselves to forgive others, but God can empower us to forgive those who have hurt us.
Now pray for the person you must forgive. I know, easier said than done. This will begin the healing process, not for them, but within you. Your relationship with God is so much more important than your strife with man. As God has forgiven you, in obedience forgive others.