Ezekiel 25:12-14. Ezekiel's prophecy against Edom. Here Ezekiel foretells that Edom will be made desolate, its people shall all fall by the sword at the hand of the people of Israel. Edom shall know God's anger, wrath, and vengeance, because they will act revengefully against the house of Judah.

This is one of a series of such prophecies that Ezekiel made against enemy nations of Israel, including the Ammonites, Moab, the Philistines, and Tyre. All of these nations will fall because they are going to treat the people of Israel badly while they are being chastened by the Lord. The prophecies come to Ezekiel on the very day of the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians. God tells Ezekiel that this has happened, "The king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem this very day." Ezekiel 24:2, and Ezekiel is told about the coming destruction of the temple and the exile, all because the people of Judah would not be cleansed of their "filthy lewdness" and bloodlust. Ezekiel 24:6-13. But, at the same time, God is telling/warning the surrounding nations that they will be punished as well, because they will take advantage of the Israelites while they are in such a bad place.

We suffer when our behavior warrants it - both on an individual level and on a group level. But the rest of us must still love the person or group who is suffering, even if they are our "enemy," and even if we see their suffering as an opportunity to take advantage, or as justly deserved. (I'm reminded of the bullying I see on social media. It always makes my heart hurt.)

We cannot take advantage of people in their pain and suffering. Because Israel's enemies will do this - will take their revenge on the Israelites while they are in a fallen position - this will bring its own pain and destruction. This is really an Old Testament way of saying that we are to love our enemies. The Old Testament largely deals with times of war and vengeance. Changing that took time, but had to start somewhere. God was trying, through Ezekiel, to warn people that they are to treat each other with respect and love - take in refugees, help the exiled, care for the suffering, even if they are your enemies. If these nations take advantage of the Jews, as they will, then they, too, will ultimately be destroyed.

These prophecies are placeholders - what is what going to happen, is going to happen. But, by Ezekiel proclaiming it was going to happen ahead of time, and the reason for it, God is setting the stage for humanity to start understanding that all actions have consequences, and that his ultimate commandment will be to love one another. Love begets love, vengeance begets vengeance, in all relationships.