Don't love the world, it's doomed
Text Ezekiel 29 Time 24 06 07 Place Childs Hill Baptist Church
We are looking at Ezekiel's prophecies against the nations around. We have considered his brief prophecies against Ammon, Moab, Edom and Philistia, and his longer prophecy and lament against Tyre and then, more briefly again, against Sidon. The last of these prophecies is again at some length and concerns the nation of Egypt. There are four chapters altogether containing different prophecies given at different times. It's around a twelfth of the book then. We will look today just at what is found in Chapter 29. That chapter contains two prophecies - the first given on the twelfth day of the tenth month in the tenth year of Israel's exile in Babylon and the second some 16 years later on the very 1st day of the twenty-seventh year.
Now Egypt, of course, was one of the great powers of the day with powerful Pharaohs, great economic power and plenty of influence over other nations, although even then it was very much in decline. It had been the most powerful nation in the area but those days were in the past and they were currently struggling against the Cyrenians, were about to suffer at the hands of the Babylonians and would soon be more like be the nation we know as Egypt as today – (29:14-16) a lowly kingdom ... the lowliest of kingdoms not exalting itself above the other nations. ... so weak that it will never again rule over the nations.
When we read about Egypt in the Bible we are reading mostly about earthly or worldly power and it is a reminder to us of at least three things.
1. Opposition. The way that the world mistreats and abuses God's people. The world's opposition to God and his people is strong now – Egypt stands for suffering and slavery and figuratively is where our Lord was slain (Revelation 11:8). The world, with the Devil and our flesh, is one of our three great enemies.
2. Worldliness. Of how so often believers can be drawn to the world and think that the world can and will help us. Sometimes we are tempted in various ways to think that we can harness the word's power and use it for God's kingdom, as Israel was.
3. Judgement. That though the people of this world have much power now it will not last. They will be brought down. The world cannot last. Judgement is fast approaching.
1. Consider God's opposition to worldly pride and learn not to trust the world
1. Beware of pride
So here once again is ... the word of the LORD that came to Ezekiel. It said (2,3) Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt and prophesy against him and against all Egypt. Speak to him and say: This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am against you, Pharaoh king of Egypt, you great monster lying among your streams. You say, "The Nile is mine; I made it for myself."
As you may know the River Nile was very important in the economy of Egypt – everything was dependent on its ebb and flow. Here Pharaoh is pictured here as a great fish or a crocodile or some other water creature wallowing in the Nile and proudly declaring "The Nile is mine; I made it for myself." It seems faintly ridiculous put like that but that was how Egyptian kings behaved. Pharaoh was filled with arrogance and pride in his self-sufficiency. He thought he was unique and independent but the Sovereign Lord, the true God, is against him and his deceitful pride cannot last.
We are looking at Ezekiel's prophecies against the nations around. We have considered his brief prophecies against Ammon, Moab, Edom and Philistia, and his longer prophecy and lament against Tyre and then, more briefly again, against Sidon. The last of these prophecies is again at some length and concerns the nation of Egypt. There are four chapters altogether containing different prophecies given at different times. It's around a twelfth of the book then. We will look today just at what is found in Chapter 29. That chapter contains two prophecies - the first given on the twelfth day of the tenth month in the tenth year of Israel's exile in Babylon and the second some 16 years later on the very 1st day of the twenty-seventh year.
Now Egypt, of course, was one of the great powers of the day with powerful Pharaohs, great economic power and plenty of influence over other nations, although even then it was very much in decline. It had been the most powerful nation in the area but those days were in the past and they were currently struggling against the Cyrenians, were about to suffer at the hands of the Babylonians and would soon be more like be the nation we know as Egypt as today – (29:14-16) a lowly kingdom ... the lowliest of kingdoms not exalting itself above the other nations. ... so weak that it will never again rule over the nations.
When we read about Egypt in the Bible we are reading mostly about earthly or worldly power and it is a reminder to us of at least three things.
1. Opposition. The way that the world mistreats and abuses God's people. The world's opposition to God and his people is strong now – Egypt stands for suffering and slavery and figuratively is where our Lord was slain (Revelation 11:8). The world, with the Devil and our flesh, is one of our three great enemies.
2. Worldliness. Of how so often believers can be drawn to the world and think that the world can and will help us. Sometimes we are tempted in various ways to think that we can harness the word's power and use it for God's kingdom, as Israel was.
3. Judgement. That though the people of this world have much power now it will not last. They will be brought down. The world cannot last. Judgement is fast approaching.
1. Consider God's opposition to worldly pride and learn not to trust the world
1. Beware of pride
So here once again is ... the word of the LORD that came to Ezekiel. It said (2,3) Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt and prophesy against him and against all Egypt. Speak to him and say: This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am against you, Pharaoh king of Egypt, you great monster lying among your streams. You say, "The Nile is mine; I made it for myself."
As you may know the River Nile was very important in the economy of Egypt – everything was dependent on its ebb and flow. Here Pharaoh is pictured here as a great fish or a crocodile or some other water creature wallowing in the Nile and proudly declaring "The Nile is mine; I made it for myself." It seems faintly ridiculous put like that but that was how Egyptian kings behaved. Pharaoh was filled with arrogance and pride in his self-sufficiency. He thought he was unique and independent but the Sovereign Lord, the true God, is against him and his deceitful pride cannot last.
It's how people behave today too. Think of fat cats sat on their pile and saying "The money's mine; I made it for myself" or someone who has known some success boasting "I did it my way" – people even have that song played at their funerals!
And you may luxuriate in what God has provided and you may boast that you are the "captain of your own ship" but in fact you are in God's hands and he can do with you just as he pleases. Remember that. It is the answer to all the pride and self-glory that lies at the root of the world's attitudes.
2. Hear this threat of judgement
4, 5 But I will put hooks in your jaws and make the fish of your streams stick to your scales. I will pull you out from among your streams, with all the fish sticking to your scales. I will leave you in the desert, you and all the fish of your streams. You will fall on the open field and not be gathered or picked up. I will give you as food to the beasts of the earth and the birds of the air. God is going to put hooks in the jaws of this creature and pull him out. In the process all the other fish that cling to him, all the hangers on in Egypt and beyond, will be affected too. They will be dragged from the Nile, as it were, along with him and left in a desert – exposed and abandoned - food to the beasts of the earth and the birds of the air.
The historian Herodotus wrote of how Pharaoh Hophrah reigned in prosperity for 25 years and was so full of his own success that he boasted that 'God himself could not cast him out of his kingdom' but he suffered a rude awakening.
And you may luxuriate in what God has provided and you may boast that you are the "captain of your own ship" but in fact you are in God's hands and he can do with you just as he pleases. Remember that. It is the answer to all the pride and self-glory that lies at the root of the world's attitudes.
2. Hear this threat of judgement
4, 5 But I will put hooks in your jaws and make the fish of your streams stick to your scales. I will pull you out from among your streams, with all the fish sticking to your scales. I will leave you in the desert, you and all the fish of your streams. You will fall on the open field and not be gathered or picked up. I will give you as food to the beasts of the earth and the birds of the air. God is going to put hooks in the jaws of this creature and pull him out. In the process all the other fish that cling to him, all the hangers on in Egypt and beyond, will be affected too. They will be dragged from the Nile, as it were, along with him and left in a desert – exposed and abandoned - food to the beasts of the earth and the birds of the air.
The historian Herodotus wrote of how Pharaoh Hophrah reigned in prosperity for 25 years and was so full of his own success that he boasted that 'God himself could not cast him out of his kingdom' but he suffered a rude awakening.
Hear this threat of judgement to all who seek to oppose God and live for self. God will deal with you as he will deal with all who rebel against him.
3. Consider the result of God's judgements
3. Consider the result of God's judgements
Here it is again (6a) Then all who live in Egypt will know that I am the LORD. This is the purpose of God's judgements. You have heard the phrase many times before. Remember it. The world strenuously opposes God now but one day they will know that he is the Lord.
4. Learn not to trust in the world
It goes on (6, 7) 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. This prophecy was given at a time when God's people were particularly prone to thinking that Egypt was the answer to their problem with the Babylonians. An alliance with the Egyptians – that is the answer. But no – this walking stick that they though would help them along was going to splinter and tear into their shoulders as they leaned on it. It was going to wrench their backs as they tried to put their weight on it.
We who are believers are also tempted to get embroiled in the world and to start following its ways and relying on it too. What foolishness. Such supports are bound to fail and we will go crashing down with them if we dare to rely on them. Look to God alone. Lean on Christ. He'll uphold you. Don't start thinking like a worldling – living for money or for entertainment or for so-called 'success'.
2. Consider God's judgement on the world and the note of mercy sounded here
1. Consider God's judgement on Egypt
In 8-12 we have a description of the coming judgement on Egypt. God says
I will bring a sword against you and kill your men and their animals. Egypt will become a desolate wasteland. Then they will know that I am the LORD. Because you said, The Nile is mine; I made it, therefore I am against you and against your streams, and I will make the land of Egypt a ruin and a desolate waste from Migdol to Aswan, as far as the border of Cush. No foot of man or animal will pass through it; no one will live there for 40 years. I will make the land of Egypt desolate among devastated lands, and her cities will lie desolate 40 years among ruined cities. And I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them through the countries.
Here is a warning of the sword then - of war, of devastation and desolation, of scattering and exile. Ezekiel has the coming Babylonian invasion in mind but it points us to the final judgement that will surely come at the end. God is consequently bringing his judgements on various nations – they rise and they fall at God's will. Each one points us on to the coming final judgement. It's a little like mock exams in school perhaps. They are important but their aim is to prepare you for the real thing. Are we ready for that coming judgement? Do we realise what will happen to the world, to those who oppose God then? It seems strong now but not then when devastation comes and they are scattered. How will you face the judgement? Are you holding on to Jesus now?
2. Consider the element of mercy mixed with his judgement
Already we note that the worst of the judgement is limited – to 40 years. In 13, 14 the words of mercy are spelled out. Yet this is what the Sovereign LORD says: At the end of 40 years I will gather the Egyptians from the nations where they were scattered. I will bring them back from captivity and return them to Upper Egypt, the land of their ancestry. There they will be a lowly kingdom. Around the time of Israel's own return from exile something similar happened it seems to the Egyptians.
Notice that it is only a partial mercy. 15, 16 It will be the lowliest of kingdoms and will never again exalt itself above the other nations. I will make it so weak that it will never again rule over the nations. God's purpose in this is the good of his people - Egypt will no longer be a source of confidence for the people of Israel but will be a reminder of their sin in turning to her for help. Then they will know that I am the Sovereign LORD.
Here is an encouragement then to consider God's providence - the things he does in the world. There are not only judgements but also acts of mercy. Take this country as an example. My father is now 78 and so he is old enough (like one or two of you) to remember 'Empire day'. I'm only 48 but I can still remember articles with 'Empire made' (which usually meant Hong Kong) written on them. Yes, Britain was once (and not too long ago) a superpower like America today or Russia a little while ago. But that is now gone. Nevertheless, God has continued to show us many mercies. We still have a stable government and much freedom to preach the gospel. We should be thankful and see it as a sign of God's favour. Let's take full advantage of it.
3. Consider God's timing and the fact that though it may seem long in coming his judgement will arrive
4. Learn not to trust in the world
It goes on (6, 7) 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. This prophecy was given at a time when God's people were particularly prone to thinking that Egypt was the answer to their problem with the Babylonians. An alliance with the Egyptians – that is the answer. But no – this walking stick that they though would help them along was going to splinter and tear into their shoulders as they leaned on it. It was going to wrench their backs as they tried to put their weight on it.
We who are believers are also tempted to get embroiled in the world and to start following its ways and relying on it too. What foolishness. Such supports are bound to fail and we will go crashing down with them if we dare to rely on them. Look to God alone. Lean on Christ. He'll uphold you. Don't start thinking like a worldling – living for money or for entertainment or for so-called 'success'.
2. Consider God's judgement on the world and the note of mercy sounded here
1. Consider God's judgement on Egypt
In 8-12 we have a description of the coming judgement on Egypt. God says
I will bring a sword against you and kill your men and their animals. Egypt will become a desolate wasteland. Then they will know that I am the LORD. Because you said, The Nile is mine; I made it, therefore I am against you and against your streams, and I will make the land of Egypt a ruin and a desolate waste from Migdol to Aswan, as far as the border of Cush. No foot of man or animal will pass through it; no one will live there for 40 years. I will make the land of Egypt desolate among devastated lands, and her cities will lie desolate 40 years among ruined cities. And I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them through the countries.
Here is a warning of the sword then - of war, of devastation and desolation, of scattering and exile. Ezekiel has the coming Babylonian invasion in mind but it points us to the final judgement that will surely come at the end. God is consequently bringing his judgements on various nations – they rise and they fall at God's will. Each one points us on to the coming final judgement. It's a little like mock exams in school perhaps. They are important but their aim is to prepare you for the real thing. Are we ready for that coming judgement? Do we realise what will happen to the world, to those who oppose God then? It seems strong now but not then when devastation comes and they are scattered. How will you face the judgement? Are you holding on to Jesus now?
2. Consider the element of mercy mixed with his judgement
Already we note that the worst of the judgement is limited – to 40 years. In 13, 14 the words of mercy are spelled out. Yet this is what the Sovereign LORD says: At the end of 40 years I will gather the Egyptians from the nations where they were scattered. I will bring them back from captivity and return them to Upper Egypt, the land of their ancestry. There they will be a lowly kingdom. Around the time of Israel's own return from exile something similar happened it seems to the Egyptians.
Notice that it is only a partial mercy. 15, 16 It will be the lowliest of kingdoms and will never again exalt itself above the other nations. I will make it so weak that it will never again rule over the nations. God's purpose in this is the good of his people - Egypt will no longer be a source of confidence for the people of Israel but will be a reminder of their sin in turning to her for help. Then they will know that I am the Sovereign LORD.
Here is an encouragement then to consider God's providence - the things he does in the world. There are not only judgements but also acts of mercy. Take this country as an example. My father is now 78 and so he is old enough (like one or two of you) to remember 'Empire day'. I'm only 48 but I can still remember articles with 'Empire made' (which usually meant Hong Kong) written on them. Yes, Britain was once (and not too long ago) a superpower like America today or Russia a little while ago. But that is now gone. Nevertheless, God has continued to show us many mercies. We still have a stable government and much freedom to preach the gospel. We should be thankful and see it as a sign of God's favour. Let's take full advantage of it.
3. Consider God's timing and the fact that though it may seem long in coming his judgement will arrive
From verse 17 we have another prophecy of Ezekiel. You notice that it was given some 16 years later than the first one and is one of the last of his prophecies to be recorded in the book. It is put in here because it fits with the theme. After destroying Jerusalem Nebuchadnezzar spent two or three campaigns in the conquest of the Ammonites and Moabites. He then spent a long 13 years on the siege of Tyre. All that time the Egyptians were embroiled in a war with their Cyrenian neighbours and with each other, which very much weakened them. Now just as the siege of Tyre comes to an end God speaks through Ezekiel again to show him that the utter destruction of Egypt he had foretold 16 years before would now be completed by Nebuchadnezzar.
God tells Ezekiel (18-20) Son of man, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon drove his army in a hard campaign against Tyre; every head was rubbed bare and every shoulder made raw. Yet he and his army got no reward from the campaign he led against Tyre. Having spent 13 years on it, most of the plunder had been spent and what was left was hardly compensation for such a long campaign. But God has better spoil for Egypt – he says I am going to give Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he will carry off its wealth. He will loot and plunder the land as pay for his army. I have given him Egypt as a reward for his efforts because he and his army did it for me, declares the Sovereign LORD. Nebuchadnezzar was not consciously working for God, of course, but with a certain irony God points out how he was using Nebuchadnezzar to fulfil his purposes.
God tells Ezekiel (18-20) Son of man, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon drove his army in a hard campaign against Tyre; every head was rubbed bare and every shoulder made raw. Yet he and his army got no reward from the campaign he led against Tyre. Having spent 13 years on it, most of the plunder had been spent and what was left was hardly compensation for such a long campaign. But God has better spoil for Egypt – he says I am going to give Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he will carry off its wealth. He will loot and plunder the land as pay for his army. I have given him Egypt as a reward for his efforts because he and his army did it for me, declares the Sovereign LORD. Nebuchadnezzar was not consciously working for God, of course, but with a certain irony God points out how he was using Nebuchadnezzar to fulfil his purposes.
It is a reminder again of the sovereignty of God. He uses who he will in his service – an Ezekiel yes, a Nebuchadnezzar too if he chooses. We may have our doubts about God's power to judge, especially if it seems a long time in coming but he is working his purposes out and his will shall certainly prevail.
4. Consider God's continuing mercy to his people
4. Consider God's continuing mercy to his people
Then finally in 21 we have this wonderful word of encouragement for God's people On that day I will make a horn grow for the house of Israel, and I will open your mouth among them. Then they will know that I am the LORD.
There are three things here then.
First, the promise that God will make a horn (a symbol of strength and power) grow for the house of Israel, then the promise to open Ezekiel's mouth in prophecy again among the people. Finally, that very familiar Then they will know that I am the LORD. We should probably understand this prophecy, like most prophecies, as having a more immediate and a later fulfilment.
So first, the horn that would grow might be Zerubbabel the prince who eventually had a hand in leading Israel back from exile or perhaps Cyrus, the Persian King who decreed the return. Although his words are not recorded, presumably Ezekiel had a ministry among God's people for many years after. All this combined to bring the people to a greater knowledge of the Lord.
More remotely we think of the coming of Messiah ad the ushering in of the new age in which we also now live. Jesus can be thought of as a horn growing for the house of Israel there in Bethlehem and Egypt and Nazareth and Capernaum. He is the King of Kings and his people's strength. Like Ezekiel he is the son of man whose mouth was opened to prophesy and whose words we still have - wonderful words of life from God for all who trust in him. Through his power and his words we can know forgiveness for sin and reconciliation with God. How? Because of something not spoken of here – his priestly work of sacrifice on the cross in the place of sinners. Look to him as your prophet, priest and king. He alone can save. The world can do you no good - it is doomed. Come out of it and come to him. Put your faith in Christ and be saved forever.
So first, the horn that would grow might be Zerubbabel the prince who eventually had a hand in leading Israel back from exile or perhaps Cyrus, the Persian King who decreed the return. Although his words are not recorded, presumably Ezekiel had a ministry among God's people for many years after. All this combined to bring the people to a greater knowledge of the Lord.
More remotely we think of the coming of Messiah ad the ushering in of the new age in which we also now live. Jesus can be thought of as a horn growing for the house of Israel there in Bethlehem and Egypt and Nazareth and Capernaum. He is the King of Kings and his people's strength. Like Ezekiel he is the son of man whose mouth was opened to prophesy and whose words we still have - wonderful words of life from God for all who trust in him. Through his power and his words we can know forgiveness for sin and reconciliation with God. How? Because of something not spoken of here – his priestly work of sacrifice on the cross in the place of sinners. Look to him as your prophet, priest and king. He alone can save. The world can do you no good - it is doomed. Come out of it and come to him. Put your faith in Christ and be saved forever.
