Your oarsmen take you out to the high seas. But the east wind will break you to pieces far out at sea. – Ezekiel 27:26

Today’s Scripture Reading (May 23, 2017): Ezekiel 27

In “Bleak House,” Charles Dickens describes the East Wind as the harbinger of bad events. At one point the character, Mr. Jarndyce, makes this observation:

"My dear Rick," said Mr. Jarndyce, poking the fire, "I'll take an oath it's either in the east or going to be. I am always conscious of an uncomfortable sensation now and then when the wind is blowing in the east."

Growing up on the North American Prairies, the prevailing wind was from the West. The wind blew off of the Pacific Ocean, and the rose up and over the Rocky Mountains, dropping most of its moisture on the west side of the mountain range before it dived down the east side of the mountain range and over the plain. Sometimes, the West Wind came in the form of a Chinook, bringing with it a drastic change in weather, usually in a pleasant way. In the middle of winter, a Chinook wind could bring with it a forty degree warming in a matter of hours. What started as a bitterly cold day could end with people enjoying the outdoors without even a light jacket. But occasionally, the wind did blow from the East. And when it did, it was time to take cover because a storm was coming and, often, it was a substantial one.

Ezekiel continues his prophecy over Tyre, and he tells them that their oarsmen had taken them out to the high sea. The meaning hiding behind the description is that Tyre was being led by competent people. The leaders of Tyre had built a financial empire in the city that existed on a firm foundation. But no matter how strong the financial empire and how competent the leadership of the city might have been, they were no match for the East Wind.

In the mind of Ezekiel, the East Wind was likely Babylon. Judah had fallen to the East Wind, but they would not fall alone. The danger of the East wind was going to blow through the region, bringing destruction to the entire area. When the East Wind blows, it seldom blows on just one area. It is a general wind, and few will be able to escape its destruction. Babylon was coming and had come, and the region needed to prepare for what would happen next.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 28