What does "I will turn thee back" mean in Ezekiel 38:4?
In Ezekiel 38:4, “I will turn thee back” means God will change Gog’s direction. It is pictured as literally turning a horse, reversing or redirecting the advance of the Russian-led consortium of nations. God sovereignly controls the prophetic event and turns them according to His purpose.
Les explains that Ezekiel 38 is a prophecy against Gog and Magog, understood as the nations now recognized as the Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, and similar regions. In verse 4 God says, “I will turn thee back.” Les says this means God will literally, like turning a horse, change their direction. This displays God’s sovereignty: He is omnipotent and all-knowing, His ways are higher than our ways, and He is bringing this consortium of nations headed by the Russians according to His prophetic purpose.
And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords: