Reading: Ezekiel 29-32
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and will break his arms, the strong, and that which was broken; and I will cause the sword to fall out of his hand. And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries (Ezek. 30:22-23).
At the time of the Exodus, the ten plagues forced the Egyptians to acknowledge that their gods were powerless against the One True God. This should have caused Egypt to reject their idols and worship the One True God of all creation. We all know, of course, that this did not happen. Their hardened hearts had prevented them from understanding and accepting the majesty of the Lord. Over the centuries since that time, Egypt had become a magnificent world power and had grown famous for her commerce, art, literature, science, and military might. As with his prophecy concerning Tyre, Ezekiel’s pronouncement of Egypt’s fate would have been considered by the powers of the day to be a laughable hoax. They would have believed it impossible for Egypt to be defeated and permanently stripped of her influence, yet, that is exactly what happened.
God brought judgment upon His chosen people and Egypt, Tyre, Sidon, and Babylon for one main reason. And they shall know that I am the Lord, and that I have not said in vain that I would do this evil unto them (29:9). The phrase and they shall know that I am the Lord is mentioned 66 times in this book. This is the point that all of them, from His chosen people to those He chose to carry out His judgment, were missing. None understood the importance of worshiping the Almighty God and obeying His Word.
Nebuchadnezzar did not know that Jehovah was preparing him and his Babylonian armies to be His servants. Neither did he know that he was fulfilling prophecy, and thus following the will of God by devastating first Israel and then Egypt. God said of Nebuchadnezzar, that fierce, evil king: I have given him the land of Egypt for his labour wherewith he served against it, because they wrought (worked) for Me saith the Lord God (29:20), but even then, Nebuchadnezzar never grasped that his victories came from the Lord. Therefore, after Babylon had accomplished God’s purpose, Babylon was forever destroyed.
Along with the charge to deliver words of doom and devastation, Ezekiel was granted the privilege of foretelling a future time of redemption and restoration. In that day will I cause the horn of the house of Israel to bud forth, and I will give thee the opening of the mouth in the midst of them; and they shall know that I am the Lord (29:21). God Himself looks forward to the time when all and sundry will know His name through the revelation of His glory. Redemption, not destruction. Salvation, not death.
As we read and study God's Word, let us strive to build a deep and personal relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, thus ensuring our place among the redeemed. He is available to us in every chapter and verse of every book if we only open ourselves to receive Him. In the end, God will be known to all, but only those who have entered into the body of Christ will be allowed to enter into His presence for all eternity.
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth (Ps. 46:10).
Thought For Today:Worldly destruction does not equal being forsaken, and restoration does not equate to God’s blessing. Each act is all part of the same plan leading to the same finale.
Christ Revealed: By the Word of the Lord (Ezek. 29:1). In the beginning was the Word (Jesus), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1). God . . . hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son (Heb. 1:1-2).
Word Studies:29:7 loins to be at a stand = their legs to give way or stagger; 29:18 peeled = rubbed bare; 30:2 Woe worth the day = Mourn the coming day (of terror); 31:3 a shadowing shroud = overshadowing the forest.
Pray For Staff: Kevin Jennings • Government Officials: Sen. Chris Coons (DE), Rep. John Duarte (CA), Rep. Mike Lawler (NY) • Country: Bosnia and Hercegovina (3,871,643) Balkan Peninsula in Southeastern Europe • Major Languages: Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian • Discrimination against religious minorities occurred in nearly all parts of the country • 40% Muslim; 31% Serbian Orthodox Christians; 15% Roman Catholic; 14% Other (Protestant, Jewish) • Prayer Suggestion: Delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart (Ps. 37:4).
Optional Readings:Revelation 14