The LORD Mighty in Battle

What is being said in Ezekiel 29: 3 – 7 when the LORD speaks through Ezekiel to Pharaoh king of Egypt? This is what is written, “…Thus said the LORD God; ‘Behold, I am against you, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great dragon that lies in the midst of his rivers, which has said, ‘My river is mine own, and I have made it for myself.’
4 But I will put hooks in your jaws, and I will cause the fish of your rivers to stick unto your scales, and I will bring you up out of the midst of your rivers, and all the fish of your rivers shall stick unto your scales.
5 And I will leave you thrown into the wilderness, your and all the fish of your rivers: you shall fall upon the open fields; you shall not be brought together, nor gathered: I have given you for meat to the beasts of the field and to the fowls of the heaven.
6 And all the inhabitants of Egypt shall know that I am the LORD, because they have been a staff of reed to the house of Israel.
7 (When they took hold of you by your hand, you didst break, and rend all their shoulder: and when they leaned upon you, you broke, and made all their loins to be at a stand.)'”

Here is the translation for our time (says the LORD), to ALL the corrupt establishments: to begin “Pharaoh king of Egypt” epitomizes the rulers of the captivity, and Egypt the captivity itself. In the context recently examined, “judgment beginning at the house of the God,” this address is first to those ruling and controlling God’s people and coming between their being gathered to Him, and then to the world in general, (Christian first, and then the nations).

Next we read of Pharaoh being called “the great dragon that lies in the midst of his rivers.” Yesterday and in many previous posts we’ve looked at the rivers of water as carrying counsel and instructions that flow from God in pure form direct from the source. The waters are contaminated as men add impurities meant to implant their priorities in the minds of the hearers. The full corruption is when the information becomes totally the creations of men and entirely meant to control people away from God and true wisdom found in His word. The picture is of the same stupor (sleep/death) inducing words that allow and enable mass manipulation toward carrying out the will of those controlling the information (building the cities of Egypt to glorify and immortalize the Pharaohs).

To those doing so, from lectern, pulpits or network news, I am now asking you the questions: “Do you actually think the rivers are your own, and do you truly think you have made them for yourself?”

Verse 4 goes on to tell of putting hooks in their jaws, meaning to catch them by their own words, and it says all the fish they have caught in the body of their work will I bring up out of the waters with them. The following verse says the LORD will thrown them into a wilderness, and there they will not be gathered. In this we see what was together prior (united in the deceit), when captured becomes separated, and as it says, the living of the earth and of heaven will devour them then and there.

An interesting and enlightening point is found when looking at the Hebrew word midbar, here and many other times translated “wilderness.”

Here is the Strong’s Hebrew Dictionary definition: Strong’s #4057: midbar (pronounced mid-bawr’) from 1696 in the sense of driving; a pasture (i.e. open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert; also speech (including its organs):–desert, south, speech, wilderness.

The word it is derived from is dabar, meaning word, as in a matter, thing or cause spoken of. As seen above, the same word translated “wilderness” is also translated “speech.” This is a wilderness created by their words, the entire body of their destructive work of obliterating all discourse. The result is a stupor that brings all humanity to a place (death) where no truth is spoken, only the opinions of the confused and their creators.

What we see in the fowls of the air and the beasts of the field are those not caught in the domesticated group (stupefied popular culture), not being fed on their slop, and therefore living creature devouring the culture of death, as light overcoming darkness.

The passage ends with describing the people dependent upon those ruling over them, as if thinking it a firm rod but when leaned upon proven to be an unrelyable reed collapsing under the weight. The result, of relying on what was never able to bear the burden it claimed it would and could, is a stand still of all true “progress,” and the burden is then unbearably upon the people.

The Hebrew word y’or is translated “rivers” above and is used 4 times in the chapter. It is not just used telling of the major flow but also all the associated branches feeding it or fed by it. It is the word used fourteen times in Exodus 7 in telling of the rivers turned to blood and all waters also turned to blood. It tells of the fish in these waters dying from the waters and being odorous. (We know from previous posts that blood tells of life being drained from the body; unless it is the blood shed doing the LORD’s work of correcting the errors of man by countering the stupor producing words/counsel coming through these life-draining rivers of death. Life and death are in the blood.)

Exodus 7
14 And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh’s heart is hardened, he refuses to let the people go.
15 Get you unto Pharaoh in the morning; lo, he goes out unto the water; and you shalt stand by the river’s brink against he come; and the rod which was turned to a serpent shalt you take in your hand.
16 And you shalt say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews has sent me unto you, saying, Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness: and, behold, hitherto you would not hear.
17 Thus says the LORD, In this you shalt know that I am the LORD: behold, I will smite with the rod that is in mine hand upon the waters which are in the river, and they shall be turned to blood.
18 And the fish that is in the river shall die, and the river shall stink; and the Egyptians shall loathe to drink of the water of the river.
19 And the LORD spoke unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Take your rod, and stretch out your hand upon the waters of Egypt, upon their streams, upon their rivers, and upon their ponds, and upon all their pools of water, that they may become blood; and that there may be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood, and in vessels of stone.
20 And Moses and Aaron did so, as the LORD commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood.
21 And the fish that was in the river died; and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.
22 And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments: and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, neither did he hearken unto them; as the LORD had said.
23 And Pharaoh turned and went into his house, neither did he set his heart to this also.
24 And all the Egyptians digged round about the river for water to drink; for they could not drink of the water of the river.
25 And seven days were fulfilled, after that the LORD had smitten the river.

Verse 22 above records that the waters were turned to blood by the enchantments of the magicians. The original Hebrew text actually says this was done (‘asah – accomplished) by the dark (secret) arts of their magicians/priests. It is telling of the same idea of the words causing the sleep like stupor, as waters turned to life draining and producing death. Here again is the idea of what people have been misled to now believe are fictional characters created in a primitive time.

Here is a quote from the July 21 post titled, The War, the Fall of the Rebel Angels:

“Friends, this is mass hypnosis through mass media. It creates a pop culture that is totally under the control of their stimuli, and manipulated into prejudices by making them popular in the culture. This is not to say there aren’t justified reasons for a population to become united against certain threats. What we are talking about is deadening people’s awareness of what are just and unjust reasons. This has now been so effectively indoctrinated into our society that the culture sees more threat from traditional moral standards than it does from the actual threats to it’s existence.

Here is the Merriam-Webster definition of hypnosis: “a trancelike state that resembles sleep but is induced by a person whose suggestions are readily accepted by the subject.”

When Isaiah 8 implores us to not listen to the advice that is opposed to God’s counsel it uses the term “wizards that peep, and mutter.” The Hebrew words used are yiddeoniy tsaphaph hagah, the words literally meaning, knowing ones whispering their thoughts. It precedes this by calling them, “those having familiar spirits,” translated from the single word ‘owb, meaning to mumble as in a hollow sound (seemingly meaningless words).”

These magicians/priests mentioned in Exodus 7:22 are those Paul tells us of in 2 Timothy 3:8 as having opposed Moses, and gives them as the example of those who now oppose this word of truth, altering and further corrupting it for self-centered priorities.

2 Timothy 3
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof [power of reproducing perfection in those hearing and comprehending]: from such turn away.
6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as their’s also was.
10 But you have fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the LORD delivered me.
12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
14 But continue you in the things which you have learned and have been assured of, knowing of whom you have learned them;
15 And that from a child you have known the holy scriptures, which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

Habakkuk 3 asks the question, “Was the LORD displeased against the rivers? was thine anger against the rivers? was your wrath against the sea, that you didst ride upon your horses and your chariots of salvation?” Verse 4 tells of the power of the LORD being hidden in His hand, and as if rays of light (qeren) coming from it.

Habakkuk 3
8 Was the LORD displeased against the rivers? was your anger against the rivers? was your wrath against the sea, that you didst ride upon your horses and your chariots of salvation?
9 Your bow was made quite naked, according to the oaths of the tribes, even your word. Selah. You didst cleave the earth with rivers.
10 The mountains saw you, and they trembled: the overflowing of the water passed by: the deep uttered his voice, and lifted up his hands on high.
11 The sun and moon stood still in their habitation: at the light of your arrows they went, and at the shining of your glittering spear.
12 You didst march through the land in indignation, you didst thresh the heathen in anger.
13 You went forth for the salvation of your people, even for salvation with your anointed; you wounded the head out of the house of the wicked, by discovering the foundation unto the neck. Selah.
14 You didst strike through with his staves the head of his villages: they came out as a whirlwind to scatter me: their rejoicing was as to devour the poor secretly.
15 You didst walk through the sea with your horses, through the heap of great waters.
16 When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble: when he cometh up unto the people, he will invade them with his troops.

James 3 tells of the power in the mouth and it being untamable. It also speaks volumes about the two types of waters, one producing peace and the other confusion and every evil work.

James 3
1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
3 Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor wills it.
5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindles!
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of the place of eternal self-inflicted torment.
7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and has been tamed of mankind:
8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
10 Out of the same mouth proceeds blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?
12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.
13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
14 But if you have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
15 This wisdom descends not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

Psalms 24
1 The earth is the LORD’s, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
2 For He has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.
3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in His holy place?
4 He that has clean hands, and a pure heart; who has not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
5 He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 This is the generation of them that seek Him, that seek your face, O Jacob. Selah.
7 Lift up your heads, O you gates; and be you lift up, you everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
8 Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
10 Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.