Today's Reading:

Ezekiel 29
Ezekiel 30
Ezekiel 31
Ezekiel 32

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​There were seven oracles against Egypt which allowed grace to shine through for God’s people. By exposing Egypt as an unreliable “broken reed” and bringing Egypt down, the Lord protected Judah from false hope. He wanted to end the trust in human power they had in Egypt, making them realize that He alone is their true deliverer. At the same time, God promised a “horn” for the house of Israel as a symbol of renewed power and to reopen Ezekiel’s mouth. Both would be signs of the future restoration and the coming Messiah. God’s larger purpose of mercy and His faithfulness always shine. 

Here is a list of the seven oracles against Egypt from Ezekiel 29-32:

• 29:1-16, The great crocodile will get hooked.
• 29:17-21, Nebuchadnezzar will get Egypt as a “reward” payment.
• 30:1-19, The Day of the Lord is near, and many other cities will fall.
• 30:20-26, God broke one of Pharaoh’s arms, and He will break the other.
• 31:1-18, The great cedar tree will be cut down because of pride
• 32:1-16, Lament for Pharaoh as a sea monster caught in a net and thrown on land.
• 32:17-32, Egypt and its hordes descend to Sheol, joining other fallen nations.

Why do you think God gave seven separate oracles against Egypt instead of one comprehensive judgment? How does the repeated, layered warning itself become an expression of His grace toward His people?

 

Pharaoh of Egypt was portrayed as a great monster or dragon (crocodile). He was cast into the wilderness to die and be eaten by birds. God would drag the “monster” out of the water with its “fish dependents” (the officials, army, and other nations' citizens) by hooks in the jaws. This was actually how they captured crocodiles. It showed humiliation and control over the proud ruler. What each part means:

•  The fish- the Egyptian people or allies that clung to the Pharaoh for help.
• The water- The Nile River, which was Egypt’s false sense of security.
• The Monster- the pharaoh of Egypt, who claimed self-sufficient power.

Egypt was like an unreliable ally to Judah, “a staff of reed,” a weak support when leaned on. The proud, self-made lord of the Nile would be hooked and destroyed with those who depended on him.

Upper Egypt- upstream, the original land of birth for Egypt, which is actually in the southern part of Egypt.
Lower Egypt- downstream, the northern Nile Delta, the political and economic center

It is unusual that the Nile River flows from south to north. In ancient times it was called “upper” because of the direction in elevation that the Nile water flows, not based on a North/South directional map. The river flows from south to north from East Africa to the Mediterranean Sea. The higher elevation is Upper Egypt in the southern part, and Lower Egypt is in the northern part near Cairo.

In yesterday’s reading, Nebuchadnezzar (king of Babylon) received no “reward” for demolishing Tyre. The ancient records also show that not much was plundered. Now God would give him a reward, which was Egypt and all of its wealth. God also promised to raise a horn for Israel and open Ezekiel’s mouth that had been closed for years (3:26-27). The end of the muteness was all tied to Jerusalem, and Ezekiel looked forward to the promised day when it would happen (spoiler: it comes later in chapter 33). These two points (Nebuchadnezzar’s “reward” and Ezekiel’s muteness lifted) both point to hope, like the future ultimate “horn of salvation” (Luke 1:69, Psalm 132:17). The line of David/the Messiah is like the horn sprouting on an animal, which shows natural growth, new life, and strength.

God gave a lament over Egypt. He listed the surrounding nations who would fall, including the Israelites who fled to Egypt after the fall of Jerusalem against Jeremiah’s warnings. Egypt’s strength was reliant on their allies. God did not like human pride. Chapter 29 announced Egypt’s judgment, and chapter 30 increased it. Ezekiel warned that the judgment would be so terrible that they had better start to mourn the doom. While Jerusalem was under siege, Pharaoh had gone out to help them. These chapters were not written in chronological order. The oracles took place over several years, with some delivered while Jerusalem was still under siege and others given after its fall. God arranged them to show His complete control over both Egypt’s pride and the rise of Babylon’s power.

Chapter 31 included an oracle against the Pharaoh of Egypt. Assyria was a powerful nation compared to the tall, beautiful trees of Lebanon. It held power for about 300 years, but like all prideful nations, it was not indestructible. God used the cedar tree to warn Egypt that it would fall as Assyria did to the Babylonians and the Medes. God described mourning in Sheol for the fallen tree. The “trees of Eden” (other great nations) went down with it. Egypt would share in Assyria’s fate. The Pharaoh thought he was a majestic lion, and God said, “Nope, you are a muddy monster.”

The last two of the seven oracles against Egypt were in chapter 32. It was hopeless to count on Egypt to rescue Judah at this point. These two oracles were about 15 days apart. Pharaoh, the sea monster, would have a net thrown over him and be hauled up; then he would be thrown onto the land for the animals to eat. His blood would fill the land. The heavens would darken like the Day of the Lord. The other nations would be appalled at Egypt’s downfall. That was a cosmic sign, and Ezekiel 32:11 gave a literal explanation. The oracle of Egypt going to the realm of the dead/Sheol, said they would be buried with the uncircumcised. This was a term of dishonor for those who died violently outside of the covenant community. Ezekiel was told by God to grieve for Egypt’s hordes, as they were no better than others. The Egyptians were circumcised and disliked anyone who was not. The Scripture noted other fallen nations who were already in Sheol: Assyria, Elam, Meshech and Tubal(Asia Minor), Edom, princes of the North, and the Sidonians. They were once feared but now lie in shame with the uncircumcised. Pharaoh would see them and be comforted because all shared the same fate. The mighty nations all had the same resting place; there was no special status in their former power.

Today's Discussion question:

Why do you think God gave seven separate oracles against Egypt instead of one comprehensive judgment? How does the repeated, layered warning itself become an expression of His grace toward His people?

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