It was my observation in Ezekiel chapter 21 (also in Jeremiah 39) that the end of Jerusalem came to pass. The very idols pursued by Babylon and the rebellious Hebrews were consulted to decide what the King of Babylon should do next. When you read this passage, savor each sentence. Notice how Elohim can use anyone and anything to bring about His plan. He owns everything!
Ezekiel must have chuckled a bit when he first heard this message from Elohim. He was well aware that intense hardship was coming for his people, but the specific details caused him to think deeply. In Ezekiel’s mind, he could see the Babylonian army on the move, marching toward the walls of Jerusalem.
The Hebrews confidently believed their walls would hold, as noted in Lamentations 4:12. But Ezekiel knew better. He could see the decision point coming for the Babylonians. He could see the literal fork in the road. He could see the liver of a sacrificed animal being examined by pagan soothsayers. He could see the Babylonians scratching their beards, gradually deciding which city to attack first.
We should be clear in our thinking; this was not an “either-or” decision for the King of Babylon. It was a “who is first” decision. The King’s army was on the road to crush a widespread rebellion. Both target groups were part of that rebellion. From a tactical view, the King made the correct military decision: cut off the head of the leadership first, and the rest of the rebellion will collapse in time.
Consider how the Israeli military handled its strategy in 2024. Did they not do the exact same thing, minus the liver analysis? Did they get the tactical idea from this ancient passage? Perhaps. The strategy remains highly effective: neutralize one major threat, then systematically move to the next.
Ezekiel 21:19-24 outlines the scene perfectly: “Son of man, mark out two roads for the sword of the king of Babylon to take, both starting from the same country. Make a signpost where the road branches off to the city. Mark out one road for the sword to come against Rabbah of the Ammonites and another against Judah and fortified Jerusalem. For the king of Babylon will stop at the fork in the road, at the junction of the two roads, to seek an omen: he will cast lots with arrows, he will consult his idols, he will examine the liver. Into his right hand will come the lot for Jerusalem, where he is to set up battering rams, to give the command to slaughter, to sound the battle cry, to set battering rams against the gates, to build a ramp and to erect siege works. It will seem like a false omen to those who have sworn allegiance to him, but he will remind them of their guilt and take them captive. Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because you people have brought to mind your guilt by your open rebellion, revealing your sins in all that you do—because you have done this, you will be taken captive.” (NIV)
This is what I think, never doubt the awesome power or the deliberate will of Elohim to achieve His objectives. Never assume you know the only way He will work to solve a problem or cause an event to happen. Never underestimate His creative methods to execute His will and demonstrate His absolute control over history. Do we have free will? Yes, we do. Can our actions and our surroundings be influenced by the Almighty? Absolutely. Selah!
It is notable that King Nebuchadnezzar faced the exact same decision-making issues we face today: incomplete data to render a sound judgment. So, what did he do? He leveraged his soothsayers. Even though he was a ruler with great foresight and sharp political acumen, he had very little knowledge of what was actually in his own best interest. We are reminded by this history to avoid relying on powerful men who stand with their heads held high, wallowing in self-perceived strength. Even the world’s greatest leaders seldom know what truly needs to be done.
I suspect Nebuchadnezzar might have been a bit embarrassed to resort to animal innards to make a military choice. Consider the implication: he was deciding the fate of entire empires based on the ancient equivalent of a modern-day coin toss or the roll of a few dice. His grand decision tools were reduced to a couple of arrows and the random markings on animal organs. What a sad reality.
I say to you, is that the way you want to live your life—making random decisions based on happenstance, or resting secure in Elohim’s plan? Look closely at this situation. The Hebrews experienced a devastating day because they misused their right to exercise free will. Goodness!
As for me, I choose Jesus.