History and daily events hang on the preparation of the Sons of God
Ezekiel 38-39/Matthew 3-4
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OT
38:2-11 “Son of man, prophesy against Gog of the land of Magog, the prince who rules over the nations of Meshech and Tubal. Give him this message from the Sovereign LORD: Gog, I am your enemy! I will turn you around and put hooks into your jaws to lead you out to your destruction. I will mobilize your troops and cavalry and make you a vast and mighty horde, all fully armed. Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya will join you, too, with all their weapons. Gomer and all its hordes will also join you, along with the armies of Beth-togarmah from the distant north and many others. Get ready; be prepared! Keep all the armies around you mobilized, and take command of them. A long time from now you will be called into action. In the distant future you will swoop down on the land of Israel, which will be lying in peace after her recovery from war and after the return of her people from many lands. You and all your allies–a vast and awesome horde–will roll down on them like a storm and cover the land like a cloud. This is what the Sovereign LORD says: At that time evil thoughts will come to your mind, and you will devise a wicked scheme. You will say, ‘Israel is an unprotected land filled with unwalled villages! I will march against her and destroy these people who live in such confidence!”
NT
3:13-17 Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. But John didn’t want to baptize him. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said, “so why are you coming to me?” But Jesus said, “It must be done, because we must do everything that is right.” So then John baptized him. After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, and I am fully pleased with him.”
OT Flash Points
Israel is at peace, recovered from war and all the Jews are back in their homeland
Gog then “from the distant North” and other nations (including Libya, Iran, Ethiopia?) will swoop down on Israel like a cloud
God will show the whole world that he is God
NT Flash Points
John the Baptist “Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming!”
Jesus is baptized and led by the Plan, God’s Road Manager, Holy Spirit, into the desert to be tested
Which He passed, or we wouldn’t be here
Note: The Father’s declaration of pleasure in Jesus came before the test, part of the equipment for passing it
Perspective
Psalm 123:3 – Christian temper of mind where we are diverted from Jesus’ disposition – Refuse to be swamped with the cares of this world
Refuse the reflex of trying to vindicate yourself