Tag: Ezekiel 29-32
The coming day of the Lord!
Scripture reading for August 26th: Ezekiel 29-32
One of the bad habits that Israel had developed was a dependence on Egypt for help. After Moses led them out of Egypt with a mighty deliverance, they talked of stoning him and choosing a new leader who would take them back. They easily forgot that Egypt was a land of idolatry that God had called them out of. Even after Babylon had conquered the nation of Israel and left a remnant, that group of Jews went down to Egypt for protection against the advice of Jeremiah. (Jeremiah 42:19-22) (Jeremiah 43:7)
Ezekiel again prophesied concerning Egypt and Pharaoh. God warned them that their pride would bring judgment and defeat. God was bringing a sword against them that would leave the land of Egypt desolate for forty years. (Ezekiel 29:8-12) After forty years, God would bring a remnant of Egyptians back and they would be a lowly kingdom.
The prophet Ezekiel then announced that the day of the Lord was near. That day was to be a day of clouds and darkness. It would be a day of doom for the nations that Ezekiel had spoken about. A sword would arise from Babylon that would bring destruction on Egypt and her surrounding friends. (Ezekiel 30:1-4) This “day of the Lord” came to these people during the lifetime of Ezekiel. His word from the Lord came to pass and Egypt went into captivity; Israel, Cush, and Tyre were destroyed as well.
We often hear the messages of the “day of the Lord” and “the end” and tend to think that it must be a long way off. I want to encourage you that this day could be today! We are told to live in readiness for Christ’s return. (Matthew 22:42-44) We are told that no one will know the day or hour, but that we should be watchful and prepared. (Matthew 24:36) For those who are ready by faith in Jesus Christ, it will be a day of joy and gladness. For those who experience this day outside of God’s mercy, it will be darkness, trouble and doom. We don’t know when that day might come, but we do know that it is nearer today than yesterday!
The day of the Lord is near!
Scripture reading for August 24th: Ezekiel 29-32
One of the bad habits that Israel had developed was a dependence on Egypt for help. After Moses led them out of Egypt by God’s powerful hand, they talked of stoning him and choosing a new leader who would take them back. They easily forgot that Egypt was a land of slavery and God had called them out of there. Even after Babylon had conquered the nation of Israel, a remnant left there in Israel chose to go down to Egypt for protection against the advice of Jeremiah. (Jeremiah 42:19-22) (Jeremiah 43:7) In Ezekiel 29 God gave Ezekiel a prophetic word concerning Egypt and Pharaoh. God warned that their pride would bring judgment and defeat. God was bringing a sword against them that would leave the land of Egypt desolate for forty years. (Ezekiel 29:8-12) After forty years, God would bring a remnant of Egyptians back and they would be a lowly kingdom. Israel was to learn not to rely on Egypt ever again and that the Lord was sovereign over nations. (Ezekiel 29:16)
The prophet Ezekiel announced that the day of the Lord was near. That day would be a day of clouds and darkness. It would be a day of doom for the nations that Ezekiel had spoken about. A sword would arise from Babylon that would bring destruction on Egypt and her surrounding friends. (Ezekiel 30:1-4) This “day of the Lord” came to these people during the lifetime of Ezekiel. Egypt went into captivity; Israel, Cush, and Tyre were destroyed as well.
When we hear the message about the “day of the Lord” and “the end”, we tend to think they are a long way off. We believe that they apply to a distant time, possibly be thousands of years away and surely not in our lifetime. However, we should be living as if today was the day! We are told to live in readiness for Christ’s return. (Matthew 22:42-44) We are told that no one will know the day or hour, but that we should be watchful and prepared. (Matthew 24:36) For those who are ready by faith in Jesus Christ, it will be a day of joy and gladness. For those who experience this day outside of God’s mercy, it will be darkness, trouble and doom. The ‘Day of the Lord’ is nearer today than yesterday! Are you ready?
Lament for Egypt
Scripture reading for August 26th: Ezekiel 29-32
Ezekiel’s next assignment was to speak a prophetic word and lament over Egypt and Pharaoh. Egypt was a powerful country that for years had influence on Israel. God used them earlier to preserve His people during a time of famine. He sent Joseph there to help Egypt to manage resources and save lives. God then brought His people out of Egypt after their appointed time there. He judged the nation for their idolatry, but Egypt continued to hold attraction for God’s people. Some of the idolatry had come with them out of Egypt and their hearts often turned toward Egypt.
“You have been a staff of reed for the house of Israel. When they grasped you with their hands, you splintered and you tore open their shoulders; when they leaned on you, you broke and their backs were wrenched.” (Ezekiel 29:6-7) God was not pleased that His people would turn to Egypt instead of Him. Egypt is a picture of the flesh and humanistic power of man without God. When God’s people depend on Egypt, nothing good ever comes of it.
God was going to again judge Egypt and warned them with Ezekiel’s prophetic word and lament. They claimed ownership of the Nile and were filled with pride in their power and influence. God was going to bring them down to ruin and allow their cities to lie in ruins for forty years. He would then bring the Egyptians back and allow them to have the land of their ancestry back. They would be a humbled people and lowly kingdom from then on. (Ezekiel 29:12-16) God was removing Egypt as a source of confidence for the Israelites and the judgment would be a reminder of the sin of trusting in Egypt for help.
Another interesting reason for the fall of Egypt was the payment of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon for doing God’s will! God used Nebuchadnezzar to punish Tyre and Egypt. When he went against Tyre, he did not get much spoil and it took resources. However, the riches of Egypt were given to him by God as payment for his services! (Ezekiel 29:17-20) God is truly sovereign and does what He will with nations and wealth. What an interesting passage that gives us insight into God’s ways in using even heathen nations for His purposes! Remember He judged Babylon too, for their own sins!
The day of the Lord is near!
Scripture reading for August 26th: Ezekiel 29-32
One of the bad habits that Israel had developed was a dependence on Egypt for help. Whenever they got into trouble, they would often seek to go back to Egypt. After Moses led them out with a mighty deliverance, they talked of stoning him and choosing a new leader who would take them back. They easily forgot that that was a land of idolatry and slavery for them and that God had called them out of there. Even after Babylon had conquered the nation of Israel and left a remnant there in the land of Israel, that group went down to Egypt for protection against the advice of Jeremiah the prophet of the Lord. (Jeremiah 42:19-22) (Jeremiah 43:7) In Ezekiel 29 we have a prophesy given to Ezekiel concerning Egypt and Pharaoh. God warned them that their pride would bring judgment and defeat. God was bringing a sword against them that would leave the land of Egypt desolate for forty years. (Ezekiel 29:8-12) After forty years, God would bring a remnant of Egyptians back and they would be a lowly kingdom. Israel was to learn not to rely on Egypt any more and that the Lord was sovereign. (Ezekiel 29:16)
The prophet Ezekiel was to then announce that the day of the Lord was near. That day was to be a day of clouds and darkness. It would be a day of doom for the nations that Ezekiel had spoken about. A sword would arise from Babylon that would bring destruction on Egypt and her surrounding friends. (Ezekiel 30:1-4) This “day of the Lord” came to these people during the lifetime of Ezekiel. His word from the Lord came to pass and Egypt went into captivity; Israel, Cush, and Tyre were destroyed as well.
We often hear the messages of the “day of the Lord” and “the end” and tend to think that they are probably a long way off. We think that they apply to a distant time when God will return. We feel that this could possibly be thousands of years away, or at least, not in our lifetime. I want to encourage you that this day could be today! We are told to live in readiness for Christ’s return. (Matthew 22:42-44) We are told that no one will know the day or hour, but that we should be watchful and prepared. (Matthew 24:36) For those who are ready by faith in Jesus Christ, it will be a day of joy and gladness. For those who experience this day outside of God’s mercy, it will be darkness, trouble and doom. We don’t know when that day might come, but we do know that it is nearer today than yesterday!