Tag: #Godisincontrol

The Master of the Battering Ram

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

In Ezekiel 26, the city of Tyre appeared invincible. They were the financial and political powerhouse of their time, protected by huge walls and a sense of “god-like” significance. But verse 9 shows us that even the strongest human defenses are like paper before the Lord.

“He will direct the blows of his battering rams against your walls and demolish your towers with his weapons” (Ezekiel 26:9, ESV)

Today, we see leaders who act as if they control history. They boast, threaten, and create chaos, making us feel anxious. But Ezekiel reminds us that only God is the Lord and King. Judgment Day is what equalizes everyone. Those who see themselves as gods will eventually fall to their knees before the only true King. This isn’t just about punishment; it’s about restoring the right order. When man tries to sit on God’s throne, God will remind the world who truly owns it.

The most encouraging (and mysterious) part of God’s sovereignty is His ability to use “bad actors” for His divine purposes. In Ezekiel’s time, He used a pagan king to carry out judgment.

Even when the world feels chaotic, God is guiding the “blows.” Often, God allows earthly systems to be shaken so that the “shakable” things fall away, leaving only His Kingdom standing (Hebrews 12:27).

As a partner/owner of a handyman company, I’ve seen firsthand that sometimes we must tear out the rot before we can fix the house. God isn’t just a God of destruction; He is a God of restoration. He allows the “towers” of pride to fall so that people will stop focusing on their own achievements and begin looking at the Throne.

We watch the news and see chaos—leaders boasting about their power and walls they believe cannot be broken. But Ezekiel 26:9 reminds us that there is only one true King. The battering rams of history are in His hands. Whether He is building up or tearing down, His purpose is always to bring us to the end of ourselves so we can find our beginning in Him. Today, don’t fear the turmoil; trust the Architect.

Ezekiel 26:9 depicts a scene of violent upheaval. Large walls are torn down; weapons of war break what people believed to be everlasting. In today’s world, we experience this kind of “shaking” every time a new leader takes power or a global crisis emerges. It feels like the ground is shifting beneath our feet.

But then we have the promise of Hebrews 13:8:

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

The rulers Ezekiel mentioned—and those we see on the news today—are subject to the cycle of “yesterday, today, and tomorrow” in time. They rise for a season, and they fall.

  • The Puffed-Up Ruler: They believe their power is theirs alone.
  • The Sovereign Truth: They are simply tools. God is the one who “removes kings and sets up kings” (Daniel 2:21). Because He is the same yesterday, today, and forever, His standards for justice and His authority over the nations never change. He was in charge during Ezekiel’s time, and He is in charge of today’s headlines.

It’s truly inspiring to realize that the God who directed the “blows of the battering ram” against ancient evil is the same God watching over our lives today.

  • Yesterday: He brought down the towers of Tyre to prove His Lordship.
  • Today: He is using the turmoil of our world to shake our reliance on earthly things.
  • Forever: He will reign in a Kingdom that cannot be shaken.

When world leaders create chaos, our hearts often respond with fear because we focus on the change. We worry about what might happen tomorrow. But if God is the same forever, then His promises of protection, His plan for redemption, and His ultimate victory remain unchanging.

The world’s walls may fall, and its leaders may boast, but the Rock of Ages remains unmoved. He does not experience ‘bad days.’ He is never taken by surprise by a coup or an election, and His character stays as holy and powerful as it was the day He spoke the world into existence.

“When you look at the ‘walls’ being torn down in our world today, are you looking at the destruction, or are you looking at the Unchanging Hand that holds the tools?”

A Prayer for Peace

 Father God,

Today, as we acknowledge that You alone are the High King over all the earth, we confess that our hearts are often troubled by the headlines and turmoil caused by the leaders of this world.

Still, we thank You for the truth of Your Word in Ezekiel 26:9. We thank You that no battering ram moves without Your hand, and no earthly power exists unless You have allowed it. We lift up the ‘puffed-up’ rulers of our day—those who believe they are gods and masters of their own destiny. We ask that You would use even their actions to bring about Your divine purposes, to destroy evil, and to lead hearts back to You.

We rejoice in the promise that even as the world changes constantly, Jesus Christ remains the same yesterday, today, and forever. You are the Anchor that never slips, the Rock that never cracks. When earthly kingdoms shake, we stay strong with our feet grounded in Your unshakable Kingdom.

Forgive us for relying on human walls for strength. Today, we choose to rest in Your sovereignty. We exchange our anxiety for Your peace, knowing that the Architect of the Universe remains on His throne and that You are working all things together for the good of those who love You (Romans 8:28).

In light of your truth and sovereign will, we plead for peace in the Middle East and protection for our troops and your people everywhere.

Bring comfort to those feeling overwhelmed by the world’s chaos and let Your light shine through the cracks of the falling towers of man.

In the mighty and unchanging name of Jesus,

Amen.

“It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to dwell in; who brings princes to nothing, and makes the rulers of the earth as emptiness.” — Isaiah 40:22–23

“The loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be brought low; the Lord alone will be exalted in that day.” — Isaiah 2:17

“Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe.” — Hebrews 12:28

“He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.” — Daniel 2:21

Challenge:

Each time you hear news that makes your heart sink, immediately whisper: ‘Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Let His consistency quiet the chaos of the world.

Even When the Walls Fall: What Ezekiel 26:9 Teaches Us About God’s Control

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

We all seek security. We build strong walls around our lives, whether they are financial stability, career security, or even personal boundaries. But what happens when those walls start to shake?

The ancient prophet Ezekiel faced a world where human empires were collapsing. The Jewish people saw their holiest city, Jerusalem, destroyed. Yet, amid this chaos, God delivered a prophecy against a city that seemed completely untouchable: Tyre.

The Context: The Pride of Tyre

In Ezekiel chapter 26, the great city of Tyre—a powerhouse of international trade, famous for its wealth and its seemingly impregnable island fortress—made a fatal mistake. When Jerusalem fell, Tyre didn’t mourn; it rejoiced.

“Aha! The gate to the nations is broken, and its doors have swung open to me; now that she lies in ruins I will prosper.” (Ezekiel 26:2)

Tyre’s sin was commercial arrogance. They saw Jerusalem’s tragedy as their own financial opportunity, prioritizing profit over human compassion and God’s relationship with His people. They believed their walls of stone and their vast fleet of ships made them masters of their own destiny.

The Main Point: The Specifics of God’s Judgment

God’s response comes in the form of a detailed, terrifying military prediction, culminating in verse 9:

“He will direct the blows of his battering rams against your walls and demolish your towers with his weapons.” (Ezekiel 26:9, NIV)

This verse, seemingly a footnote about ancient siegecraft, delivers the entire theological punch of the chapter. Here’s why it matters:

  1. God Chose the Instrument: God didn’t just promise judgment; he named the executioner: Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon (v. 7). This meant that the mightiest king on earth was merely a tool in the hand of the Sovereign Lord. God is the one directing the blow of the battering ram.
  2. No Wall Is Too High: Tyre’s walls and towers represented the pinnacle of human security and pride. By specifically mentioning the battering rams and axes, God declared that no matter how strong their defenses, their human efforts would be systematically broken down by a force He controlled.
  3. The Promise of Utter Ruin: The judgment didn’t stop with Nebuchadnezzar. The entire chapter promises that Tyre would eventually be scraped to a “bare rock” and its stones thrown into the sea. History confirms this was a long, phased process involving “many nations” (v. 3), including Alexander the Great, who literally used the debris of the mainland city to build a causeway to attack the island.

The Takeaway for Today

Ezekiel 26:9 is a resounding declaration that God is absolutely in control of history, nations, and events.

For us, the walls and towers of Tyre represent anything we build our lives upon instead of God: our own stability, our wealth, our reputation, or our pride. When those things feel secure, it’s easy to forget that God can dismantle them with terrifying speed and precision.

The good news is that this sovereignty cuts both ways. The God who justly directed the battering ram against the proud is the same God who is now directing all of history toward the final, gracious redemption offered through Jesus Christ.

The lesson of Ezekiel 26:9 is not just that human defenses will fall, but that only the King who directs the ram is worthy of our complete trust. When our own security fails, we are reminded to put our faith in the One whose authority extends over every empire, every economy, and every fortified wall.

God is still in control.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:9, ESV, Emphasis added).

Who is Your Potter?

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

When God sent Jeremiah to the potter’s house – it wasn’t to select a lovely flower vase – he had a big lesson in mind. He wanted to remind him who was in control (Jere. 18:6. ESV).

How often do we forget that God is still in control? I struggled with that for years, trying to direct things my way instead of seeking God, which I didn’t know how to do until one day, on my knees, a broken mess in every sense of the word, I finally gave up and asked God what He wanted. The weight lifted immediately.

I had been carrying a heavy load on my shoulders that was intended only for God to carry. I didn’t realize the mass of it until God took it.

From that day forward, God began to shape me into the vessel He created me to be. It’s a process – He’s not finished yet. I am still learning to let go of temporary things, emotions, and anything that tries to steal my joy and peace. Sometimes, our image of God is too small. God is bigger than all our problems combined. God sees you and cares for you.

The potter and clay imagery continues in Isaiah, where God tells His people not to fear, for He has made them with a purpose and a promise (Isaiah 43:1). God remains with His people (Isaiah 41:10). We did not form ourselves – yet we often insist on trying to know what is best for ourselves. God sees the bigger picture. He knows best and wants the best for us. (God is the best, and He longs for you to come to Him). His timing is perfect. When we try to be the potter of ourselves, we often find heartache and misery.

God formed us, and we can trust in Him as a tree planted by the water – whose leaves remain green even in seasons of heat and drought (Jere. 17:7; Ps. 1:3), because we know who is in command, we can depend on Him to provide all we need (Matt. 6:33; Luke 12:24).

This analogy lends itself to concepts such as trust, obedience, surrender, humility, patience, and acceptance. These things are not always easy, but when we strive to be closer to Christ, there is peace in acknowledging that some things are beyond our immediate understanding. We recognize our limited knowledge of the grand scheme of things and embrace the gifts God gives us with gratitude – one day at a time – the pace of grace.

No one deserves salvation. It comes only from God’s mercy, grace, and love (Rom. 9:22-23). There is freedom in surrendering to God that surpasses all understanding.

“Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Cor. 3:17, emphasis added).

The Truth in a Nutshell

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

Let’s get straight to the point. God is bigger than ALL of this! Anything to the contrary comes from a place of fear and panic and is nothing but diabolical.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8) God has always provided. He will continue to provide and protect His people. This is the same God who shut the mouths of lions. God is not the author of confusion and chaos.

Let us be the calm in the storm. Let us sing praises to His name and be grateful for the little things we usually take for granted. Don’t drink the chaos Kook-aid, ya’ll. (I am pretty sure that is a long, lost proverb.) We can be smart, stay safe and not be fearful.

No matter what happens, God is with us. We can trust Him with the outcome. Share this truth with someone today who might need a word of encouragement in the middle of the storm.

When this is all over, go on that trip you’ve been thinking about for years, take the leap of faith and do that thing God has been nudging you to do, get out and enjoy God’s creation in nature, see other parts of the world…start marking those items off your bucket list. If you don’t have a bucket list, it is an excellent time to make one.

Be kind. Share with others in need. Show love. God’s got this…and us!

By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. Hebrews 11:33-34