Mon.’s Devo - Egypt’s Fall

Read: Ezekiel 29:1-30:26; Hebrews 11:32-12:13; Psalm 112:1-10; Proverbs 27:17 This word came to Ezekiel in the 10th year of Jehoiachin’s captivity, the 12th day of the 10th month. God told Ezekiel to face Egypt and prophesy against the Pharaoh. Egypt had successfully taken Gaza and Sidon and also Phoenicia and Palestine. He had recovered much of what Nebuchadnezzar had taken from him in the fourth year of Jehoiakim’s reign. Pharaoh had become so proud after all his successes that he said not even a god could deprive him of his kingdom. God took up that challenge and showed him who was God. Ezekiel compared him to a sea monster that God was going to catch with a hook and bring on dry ground. He would die in the wilderness. This was to show that his people would be displaced to a distant land where they would die. God would bring a powerful army against Egypt to destroy her. Egypt’s Pharaoh had boasted that the Nile was his, but God made it; it was his. The cities of Egypt would be completely uninhabited for 40 years and its people scattered to other nations. At the end of the 40 years, God would bring them home again and restore their prosperity but it would remain an unimportant minor kingdom and never rise above their neighbors. Israel would never be tempted to trust in Egypt again for help. The judgment on Egypt was the beginning of a world-wide judgment on all the heathen enemies of God. On the first day of the first month of the 27th year God spoke to Ezekiel again. He commended Nebuchadnezzar for being his instrument of punishment against Tyre. They had caused much damage to her city yet they had brought away no plunder for all their effort so God would pay them by giving them the land of Egypt for their pay. On the seventh day of the first month in the 11th year of Jehoiachin’s captivity, God spoke about Egypt and its Pharaoh. He gave him the picture of Egypt and a broken arm. This referred to the defeat brought by the Chaldeans when they tried to besiege Jerusalem. His other army of power would be broken depriving him of making war. All of this was to make Egypt know who was the Lord of all. Hebrews completed its list of faithful followers of God who did great exploits and won great battles. Then he told of others who were tortured and didn’t end up victorious in this life, but they placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection. Both groups earned a good reputation in heaven because of their faith. They didn’t receive perfection on the earth because God had a better plan. He didn’t want them to reach perfection without us. Now, they are our witnesses in heaven cheering us on to finish the race that they started. To run well, we have to strip off every weight that slows us down. We can do this by keeping our eyes of Jesus, our champion. He initiates and perfects our faith. He went before us to show us how to endure shame in this world to be exalted in the next. God disciplines us as his beloved children. We should welcome his discipline and conform to his ways because he only wants good for us. Lord, we choose to keep our eyes on you. You are the one running ahead of us. Help us not to let the distractions of our lives derail us or slow us down. We welcome your discipline and wisdom.