In Ezekiel 38:1-6 what does the phrase “turn you around” mean? Where is Gog being turned around from? This has always puzzled me, and I have never found anyone mention it in a study of Ezekiel 38. Most teachers jump over that phrase to “put hooks in your jaws.” I feel that The Holy Spirit guided the writing of our Bible and that phrase is no accident, but I am at a loss as to what it means. Can you help?
Ezekiel 38:1-6 says:
The word of the LORD came to me: “Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal; prophesy against him and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. I turn will you around, put hooks in your jaws and bring you out with your whole army-your horses, your horsemen fully armed, and a great horde with large and small shields, all of them brandishing their swords. Persia, Cush and Put will be with them, all with shields and helmets, also Gomer with all its troops and Beth Togarmah from the far north with all its troops-the many nations with you.
I guess most commentators don’t stress the phrase “turn you around” because it doesn’t require any interpretation. On the other hand the phrase “hooks in your jaws” does. A hooked bridle in the mouth of a rebellious horse allows the rider to control its direction. Put the two together and we can see that the Lord will force Gog to abandon whatever his previous intent was and do the Lord’s bidding instead. We can understand why Gog will be an unwilling participant. I believe he’s a supernatural being who will know that the Lord’s purpose is to reveal Himself to Israel through this battle, and will not want to help Him accomplish that.