Fri.’s Devo - To The Pit

Read: Ezekiel 31:1-32:32; Hebrews 12:14-29; Psalm 113:1-114:8; Proverbs 27: 18-20 God had a message for proud Egypt and compared her to Assyria which was once like a cedar of Lebanon. Egypt had grown prosperous and mighty. All the great nations stood in its shadow and could not rival it. But, Egypt became proud and arrogant so it would be attacked by a foreign nation. All of its people were doomed to die and go to the pit. *** Ezekiel describes Assyria’s trip to the pit also. All the nations shook with fear when they fell. Egypt would lie there with all the other nations that God judged. *** On the first day of the 12th month of the 12th year of Jehoiachin’s captivity God spoke to Ezekiel a word for the Pharaoh of Egypt. He had thought of himself like a lion but God saw him as a sea monster. He would be caught in a net and the whole world would feast on his capture. When God blots out his life, the whole sky would be filled with darkness. His fall would cause other nations to fear for their lives. Egypt would fall to the Babylonians. *** Fourteen days later God gave Ezekiel another message. He told him to weep for Egypt and the other nations because God was about to send them to the pit. All the nations will lie in the pit together for their violent crimes. *** In Hebrews, the writer warns us not to live unholy lives because it will not go well for those who do. He spoke of the fear that Moses felt when he met God on Mt. Sinai. One day we will meet the Lord, and the assembly of God’s firstborn children whose names are written in the book, and Jesus, the one who mediated for us a better convent and to the blood which speaks of forgiveness instead of vengeance. *** We must live in the fear of the Lord because the ones who refused to listen to Moses did not escape. We too must fear God’s shaking. If we remain in Christ, we will be unshakable. *** Lord, we trust your plan for the earth and the kingdoms of the world. We pray your guidance and wisdom to all who rule in righteousness and integrity. Help those in positions of power know what to do to fight evil and restore peace to our earth.