Read Ezekiel 30
A Lament Over Egypt
30 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, prophesy and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:
“‘Wail and say,
“Alas for that day!”
3 For the day is near,
the day of the Lord is near—
a day of clouds,
a time of doom for the nations.
4 A sword will come against Egypt,
and anguish will come upon Cush.
When the slain fall in Egypt,
her wealth will be carried away
and her foundations torn down.
5 Cush and Libya, Lydia and all Arabia, Kub and the people of the covenant land will fall by the sword along with Egypt.
6 “‘This is what the Lord says:
“‘The allies of Egypt will fall
and her proud strength will fail.
From Migdol to Aswan
they will fall by the sword within her,
declares the Sovereign Lord.
7 “‘They will be desolate
among desolate lands,
and their cities will lie
among ruined cities.
8 Then they will know that I am the Lord,
when I set fire to Egypt
and all her helpers are crushed.
9 “‘On that day messengers will go out from me in ships to frighten Cush out of her complacency. Anguish will take hold of them on the day of Egypt’s doom, for it is sure to come.
10 “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:
“‘I will put an end to the hordes of Egypt
by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.
11 He and his army—the most ruthless of nations—
will be brought in to destroy the land.
They will draw their swords against Egypt
and fill the land with the slain.
12 I will dry up the waters of the Nile
and sell the land to an evil nation;
by the hand of foreigners
I will lay waste the land and everything in it.
I the Lord have spoken.
13 “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:
“‘I will destroy the idols
and put an end to the images in Memphis.
No longer will there be a prince in Egypt,
and I will spread fear throughout the land.
14 I will lay waste Upper Egypt,
set fire to Zoan
and inflict punishment on Thebes.
15 I will pour out my wrath on Pelusium,
the stronghold of Egypt,
and wipe out the hordes of Thebes.
16 I will set fire to Egypt;
Pelusium will writhe in agony.
Thebes will be taken by storm;
Memphis will be in constant distress.
17 The young men of Heliopolis and Bubastis
will fall by the sword,
and the cities themselves will go into captivity.
18 Dark will be the day at Tahpanhes
when I break the yoke of Egypt;
there her proud strength will come to an end.
She will be covered with clouds,
and her villages will go into captivity.
19 So I will inflict punishment on Egypt,
and they will know that I am the Lord.’”
Pharaoh’s Arms Are Broken
20 In the eleventh year, in the first month on the seventh day, the word of the Lord came to me: 21 “Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt. It has not been bound up to be healed or put in a splint so that it may become strong enough to hold a sword. 22 Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt. I will break both his arms, the good arm as well as the broken one, and make the sword fall from his hand. 23 I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them through the countries. 24 I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon and put my sword in his hand, but I will break the arms of Pharaoh, and he will groan before him like a mortally wounded man. 25 I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, but the arms of Pharaoh will fall limp. Then they will know that I am the Lord, when I put my sword into the hand of the king of Babylon and he brandishes it against Egypt. 26 I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them through the countries. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”
Go Deeper
Ezekiel 30 continues the prophetic and detailed description of the fall of Egypt to the Babylonian empire led by Nebuchadnezzar around 600 B.C. The judgment of God is mentioned over and over through these 26 verses. Through God’s word to his prophet Ezekiel, He describes the destruction of this mighty nation telling us the how and why from God’s perspective.
All of Egypt and its surrounding provinces fell for three reasons. First, Egypt’s pride in its wealth, world position, and fertile soils turned its heart into a nation of arrogance and oppression towards all foreigners including the nation of Israel and its people. Second, Egypt was a nation full of idolatry. Its name and those of its provinces was based on the creator god named Ptah which they worshiped as creator of the world through his speech. Ptah also then gave life to all other gods through his heart and voice. It was a polytheistic nation although, in many parts of the Bible, Egypt appeared to be a place of refuge for the nation of Israel.
As history showed, it became a place of bondage and darkness for both Israel and Judah. Thirdly, the pride of Pharaoh, as a self-proclaimed god, led to the Lord speaking in verse 24, “I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon and put My sword in his hand; and I will break the arms of Pharaoh, so that he will groan before him with the groaning of a wounded man.” In simpler words, Pharaoh was removed from power and never returned.
The message in this for us today is simple. We all must be wise enough as Christians to see that the perceived powers of this world will ultimately fail us as it failed the Egyptians. Proverbs 16:18 says, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” The Egyptians’ pride of life, wealth, provision, production, people, appearance and more, led to God proclaiming His sovereign judgment using the Babylonians as his tool of fire, destruction, and desolation of all the things they valued. The God we serve is an awesome, all-powerful God that deserves our praise and worship from the deepest part of our hearts. One can see that living by the world’s standards of wealth, power, and position, can lead us into dark worlds far away from what God wants for each of us.
The pride of the flesh is real, and we must guard against this consuming our hearts, our lives, and our worship. God sent His son Jesus Christ, to reveal His perfect love toward us. All of our hopes and dreams can be realized in Christ, and Ephesians 3:20 tells us, “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” As we walk with Him, our lives will be filled with His spirit that will then pour itself out to everyone around us. The Lord can joyously proclaim His words from this chapter over us saying, “and they will know that I am the Lord.”
Questions
What was one reason for Egypt’s destruction? Do you struggle with something similar in your own life?
How important is wealth, power, and position to God? What are God’s thoughts on any one of these?
How can you strengthen your heart for worship by putting God first in your life? Discuss this with your Life Group and others that will help you in this process.
A Quote
George Williams, a 19th century Bible teacher, writes, “The natural heart quickly tires of thoughts of judgement, but these repetitions in Ezekiel reveal God’s heart and man’s heart. The one loving, the other evil. Love searches to save and rebellion refuses to listen.”
2 thoughts on “Ezekiel 30”
I noticed how both Tyre and Egypt took what God created, the Mediterranean Sea and the Nile River, and turned them into objects of pride claiming them as their own. Rather than thanking God for these amazing natural resources he supplied, they took credit for them and proclaimed their own greatness not his. As we’ve read, God will punish them for their pride and idolatry. V12 issues a strong condemnation to Egypt, “I will dry up the Nile River and hand the land over to wicked men.” This life-giving river that God placed in the middle of a desert would be no more. “Then they will know that I am the Lord” appears over and over again as to God’s “why”. He is after our complete hearts, not divided ones we share with other things of this world. Just a reminder as we look around us to give honor and credit to God as the source of all things, and use all things to give him the glory due his name. May we rid ourselves of pride, arrogance and idolatry.
God has spoken. His words are final. They are just. He keeps His word. BUT GOD has His own timetable. We try to rush Him because we think we know better. All of God’s promises are yes and amen. “For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.” 2 Corinthians 1:20. So we cannot give up. Keep praying for whatever the Holy Spirit has directed you in/on. Even if you are not seeing it at this moment does not mean it is not happening or going to happen. God’s timing is perfect. When it happens “they will know that I am God” as in verse 26, I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them through the countries. Then they will know that I am the Lord.” It is the same for us. Do not give up, if He directed you to it, He will see you through it.
Isaiah 33 5 The Lord is exalted, for he dwells on high; he will fill Zion with justice and righteousness, 6 and he will be the stability of your times, abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is Zion’s treasure.
God thank You for fearing You , Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Thank You for never giving up on me!! Thank You for stability, abundance of wisdom and knowledge which is the key to Your treasure. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit continuing to spur me on with the purposes You have given me. God I exalt YOU!! I bow before You. I taste and see what You have done for me and beyond words are so thankful , grateful and blessed. You Lord are my strength and my shield; in You my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to You oh Lord .( Psalm 28:7) I do give thanks with all my heart in Jesus name amen.
WOOHOO!!!!!