Taking on God, Test Two

ZEP 2:4-5

     4  "For Gaza will be abandoned,
         And Ashkelon a desolation;
         Ashdod will be driven out at noon,
         And Ekron will be uprooted.
     5   Woe to the inhabitants of the seacoast,
         The nation of the Cherethites!
         The word of the Lord is against you,
         And I will destroy you,
         So that there will be no inhabitant.

Ashkelon remains desolate today. It was a great city, a great iron smelting city.

Move forward two books to Zechariah and read chapter 9, verse 5.

ZEC 9:5

     5  Ashkelon will see it and be afraid.
        Gaza too will writhe in great pain;
        Also Ekron, for her expectation has been confounded.
        Moreover, the king will perish from Gaza.
        And Ashkelon will not be inhabited.

The last line tells us that we don't have to build a city. God says, "just go and try to live there."

You want to take on God? Go inhabit Ashkelon.

That too, has been tried. And this time, snakes came from nowhere and drove those who've tried... out.

The people leave. The snakes leave.

Ashkelon is still desolate. Remember, these were once really happening places, and are in nice areas of land today.