**The Prophecy Against Ammon**
In the days when the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel, the prophet of God, the people of Israel were in exile, far from their homeland. The Babylonians had laid waste to Jerusalem, and the temple of the Lord was in ruins. The hearts of the Israelites were heavy with grief, and their spirits were crushed. Yet, even in their despair, the Lord did not forget them. He raised up Ezekiel to speak His words, not only to Israel but also to the nations surrounding them—nations that had rejoiced in Israel’s downfall and sought to profit from their misery.
Among these nations was Ammon, a people descended from Lot, the nephew of Abraham. The Ammonites had long been adversaries of Israel, and their hostility had only grown stronger with time. When Jerusalem fell, the Ammonites saw an opportunity to gloat and to seize what little remained of Israel’s land and dignity. They mocked the Israelites, saying, “Aha! The sanctuary of the Lord is destroyed! The people of Judah are no more! Their land is ours for the taking!”
The Lord, who sees all and knows the intentions of every heart, was not silent. He spoke to Ezekiel, saying, “Son of man, set your face against the Ammonites and prophesy against them. Say to them, ‘Hear the word of the Sovereign Lord: Because you said “Aha!” over my sanctuary when it was desecrated, and over the land of Israel when it was laid waste, and over the people of Judah when they went into exile, therefore I am going to give you to the people of the East as a possession. They will set up their camps and pitch their tents among you; they will eat your fruit and drink your milk. I will turn Rabbah, your capital, into a pasture for camels and Ammon into a resting place for sheep. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”
Ezekiel, filled with the Spirit of God, delivered this message with boldness and clarity. He described the coming judgment in vivid detail, painting a picture of desolation and ruin. The once-proud cities of Ammon would become barren wastelands, their streets overrun with wild animals. The fertile fields that had sustained the Ammonites would be stripped bare, and their flocks would be scattered. The people of the East, fierce and nomadic, would sweep through the land like a storm, leaving nothing but destruction in their wake.
The Lord continued, “For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because you have clapped your hands and stamped your feet, rejoicing with all the malice of your heart against the land of Israel, therefore I will stretch out my hand against you and give you as plunder to the nations. I will wipe you out from among the nations and exterminate you from the countries. I will destroy you, and you will know that I am the Lord.”
The prophecy was severe, but it was just. The Ammonites had not only taken pleasure in Israel’s suffering but had actively sought to exploit it. They had forgotten that the Lord is a God of justice, who defends the weak and punishes the proud. Their arrogance and cruelty would not go unpunished.
Ezekiel’s words were not merely a warning; they were a declaration of the Lord’s sovereignty. Through the judgment of Ammon, all nations would come to know that the Lord is God. His power is unmatched, His justice is perfect, and His word is unchanging. The Ammonites, who had once mocked the sanctuary of the Lord, would themselves become a testament to His holiness.
As Ezekiel spoke, the people of Israel listened with awe. Though they were in exile, they were reminded that their God was still on the throne. He had not abandoned them, and He would not allow their enemies to triumph forever. The judgment of Ammon was a sign of hope for Israel—a promise that the Lord would one day restore His people and establish His kingdom on earth.
And so, the word of the Lord through Ezekiel was fulfilled. In time, the Ammonites faced the wrath of the nations, and their land was laid waste. The once-mighty kingdom became a shadow of its former self, a reminder to all who would oppose the Lord and His people.
Through this story, we are reminded that the Lord is a God of justice and mercy. He defends the oppressed and punishes the wicked, but He also offers hope to those who turn to Him. The prophecy against Ammon serves as a warning to all who would exalt themselves above the Lord, and as a promise to those who trust in His unfailing love.
