Highlights:
Another enemy and its destiny (Ezek. 29:3,13-15)! How quickly we forget the days of slavery (29:16)! A sad day for Egypt and its allies (30:2-8). Egypt, a prideful and arrogant nation (chap. 31). Look who God uses to defeat the Egyptians (32:11). Read the list of others who were judged by God (32:17-31).
About a year after the Babylonians had surrounded Jerusalem in their plan to starve them into submission, Ezekiel foretold the end of Egypt as a great nation. God said to him: Son of man, set thy face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him, and against all Egypt. . . . because they have been a staff of reed (worthless support) to the house of Israel. . . . Behold, I will bring a sword upon thee, and cut off man and beast out of thee. And the land of Egypt shall be desolate and waste. . . . neither shall it be inhabited forty years (Ezek. 29:2-11). Although Egypt would no longer be a great power of the world, it would not be utterly destroyed as Babylon would be. Ezekiel foretold: At the end of forty years will I gather the Egyptians. . . . into the land of their habitation (origin); and they shall be there a base (lowly) kingdom. . . . neither shall it exalt itself any more above the nations: for I will diminish them, that they shall no more rule over the nations (29:13-15). Over the centuries, Egypt has never regained the status of a world empire. It remains a witness to the supreme authority of God.
At the time of the Exodus, the ten plagues forced the Egyptians to acknowledge that their own gods were powerless against the One True God. This should have caused Egypt and particularly, Israel who had witnessed all this, to reject their idols and worship the One True God of creation. God brought judgment upon Israel, Judah, Tyre, Sidon, Egypt, and other nations to cause them to realize that I am the Lord (29:9). This phrase is mentioned 66 times in this book alone to point out the importance of obeying the Word of God.
A future time of redemption and restoration was also foretold: In that day will I cause the horn (strength) of the house of Israel to bud forth (29:21). The horn is a symbol of power (I Sam. 2:10; Ps. 92:10). As prophesied, the people of God, both Jew and Gentile, have a future destiny of glory with Jesus as their Messiah.
God . . . hath. . . . given Him a Name which is above every name . . . That at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth . . . And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Phil. 2:9-11).
Thought for Today:
Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them (Mark 11:24).
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.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for International Broadcasts in honor of Bonnie Wilhite • Assistant to the Executive Director of the IBRA in our Washington DC Branch: Terry Hall • Government Officials: Rep. John Linder (GA), Rep. Howard (Buck) McKeon (CA), Rep. Glenn Nye (VA), and Rep. Ted Poe (TX) • Country: Azerbaijan (7.7 million) southern Transcaucasia between Europe and Asia • Major languages: Azeri and Russian • Religious freedom • 65% Shi'a Muslim; 30% Sunni Muslim; 2% Russian Orthodox; 2% Armenian Apostolic; 1% Jewish • Prayer Suggestion: Delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart (Ps. 37:4).
Optional Reading: Revelation 14
Memory Verse for the Week: Philippians 1:29