Victory In The Jaws Of Defeat Series

At first glance, Rolf Klasson, a gray-haired Swede who hobbles around on his walker, looked like an easy target. At least that's what two would-be robbers thought as they threatened him at an ATM machine.

One of the thugs waved a knife while the other thug told Klasson to turn over his wallet. They didn't know that their victim was also the former European light-middleweight boxing champ.

Klasson warned them, “This isn't going to go well.” When the men scoffed at his warning, he knocked one of them to the floor with a sharp right hook before laying the other out with a left jab. A police officer later said, “They came after the wrong guy” (Jens, “Retired boxer puts thieves on the ropes,” IceNews, 3-6-11; www.PreachingToday.com).

God’s people look like easy targets especially when they’re down. But their enemies better beware, because when you mess with God’s people, He messes with you.

Do you feel defeated today? Have people tried to hit you when you’re down? Then God has a message for you just like the message He had for His ancient people in exile. If you have your Bibles, I invite you to turn with me to Ezekiel 26, Ezekiel 26, where we have God’s message to defeated people.

Ezekiel 26:1-6 In the eleventh year, on the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me: “Son of man, because Tyre said concerning Jerusalem, ‘Aha, the gate of the peoples is broken; it has swung open to me. I shall be replenished, now that she is laid waste,’ therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am against you, O Tyre, and will bring up many nations against you, as the sea brings up its waves. They shall destroy the walls of Tyre and break down her towers, and I will scrape her soil from her and make her a bare rock. She shall be in the midst of the sea a place for the spreading of nets, for I have spoken, declares the Lord GOD. And she shall become plunder for the nations, and her daughters on the mainland shall be killed by the sword. Then they will know that I am the LORD (ESV).

God will destroy those who gloat over your destruction. You see, when Babylon invaded Jerusalem, Tyre celebrated its rival’s downfall. With Judah out of the way, the lucrative overland trade routes between Mesopotamia and Egypt were open. Tyre hoped to control them as it controlled the sea trade routes (Tony Evans).

But God says, “[No way!] I will scrape her soil from her and make her a bare rock” (verse 4). Do you know? That’s exactly what happened.

Three years after King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon destroyed Jerusalem, he besieged Tyre for 13 years. Then, before he destroyed the mainland city, the people of Tyre escaped to an island just off the coast. They thought they were safe, but 250 years later, Alexander the Great came down on Tyre—at this time on the island. In order to get to them, he scraped the old city of Tyre flat. He took its rocks and ruins and used them to build a causeway to the Island. His army then marched on the rubble-causeway into the island and destroyed it. He literally made Tyre like a bare rock, and now, fishermen use the site as a place to spread their nets.

When you mess with God’s people, God messes with you. For God’s enemies, this is a message of judgment, but for God’s people, this is a message of amazing grace.

Ezekiel had spent the first 24 chapters of his book announcing God’s anger towards Israel’s idolatry and oppression. That’s why they were in exile. But, beginning in chapter 25, Ezekiel announces God’s judgment on Israel’s enemies, especially the city of Tyre.

For God is still loyal to his people. Even in their disobedience, God has not forgotten them and has gone to battle against their enemies (The Spoken Gospel, Ezekiel 25-28). So, dear believer, even when you feel defeated, please…

HEAR GOD’S MESSAGE OF GRACE TO YOU.

Pay attention to His word of unconditional love, and know that even when He has to discipline you, He stands with you against your enemies.

They will tremble at God’s judgment against Tyre. Slip down to verse 15.

Ezekiel 26:15-16 “Thus says the Lord GOD to Tyre: Will not the coastlands shake at the sound of your fall, when the wounded groan, when slaughter is made in your midst? Then all the princes of the sea will step down from their thrones and remove their robes and strip off their embroidered garments. They will clothe themselves with trembling; they will sit on the ground and tremble every moment and be appalled at you (ESV).