We now move on to a number of chapters all about Egypt , one of the primary nations of the area that could affect the life and very existence of Israel . Thus the word comes from God (v.1) to Ezekiel and it is a word against Pharaoh and Egypt (v.2).

The present primary complaint against Pharaoh is clearly his pride (v.3) and the Lord pictures him as a great river monster, possibly a crocodile, lying in the midst of it's streams. Now we have already suggested that the Nile is simply a prophetic picture of Egypt and the ‘streams' would be the various territories captured by the might of Egypt . Pharaoh is thus pictured there, lounging as the great ruler, who declares that he has made Egypt (mighty).

So the Lord says He will hook Pharaoh (v.4) and pull him, along with a number of his vassals (the fish sticking to him), out of his comfortable reverie and dump him in the desert (v.5), an alien place for such a creature where he will be prey for other creatures. When this happens, both he and surrounding people will realise that this was a work of the Lord and that if Pharaoh was mighty, then God was mightier!

As we are going to be considering Egypt for a while, and have been through chapters against say Tyre, it is worth considering why does God through His prophet spend so much time on these ‘neighbours'? The answer has to be a) because God is concerned for all of His world and b) these particular nations affected the life and future of Israel .

D. Application:

1. God is concerned for all His world.

2. In the Middle East, everything pivots around Israel in God's eyes.

Chs. 29 - 32

Chapter: Ezek 29

Passage 25: Ezek 29:6b-16 - Against Egypt (2)

A. Find Out

1. About what does the Lord complain in respect of Egypt ? v.6b,7

2. So what will happen? v.8,9a

3. What next does He speak against and what will He do? v.9b-12

4. Yet what will He further do with them? v.13,14a

5. But what sort of kingdom will they then be? v.14b,15

6. What will be the end outworking of all this? v.16

B. Think:

1. What are the two sins of Egypt in the Lord's eyes?

2. So how will He deal with that?

3. With what end outcome?

C. Comment:

In the first six verses of this chapter we saw the Lord's complaint against Egypt's pride and the Lord's initial warning of what He was going to do with them, but we have been reading this prophet long enough to know that the Lord never leaves it with just one warning.

So again we find the Lord pointing out two failures of Egypt . The first one is somewhat surprising at first sight. It is that Egypt have not been a proper support for Israel (v.6b) and, instead, caused them harm when they looked (wrongly admittedly) for help from them. Israel are the apple of the Lord's eye, even when they go astray, and so He will hold Egypt accountable.

The second sin, is a repeat of what He said earlier – Egypt 's pride (v.9b) and so now the Lord will deal with Egypt in a similar way to the way He will deal with Israel : a sword will come (v.9) and the country will become a wasteland as an enemy overruns it (v.10). Indeed it will be a wild place where only animals live for the next forty years (v.11) and the Egyptians will be similarly dispersed by the invader (v.12).

But then we see again the Lord's grace: after forty years He will bring them back to their land (v.13,14a) but they will be a humbled people, a lowly people (v.14b,15). The outcome? In the future Egypt will no longer be a people that Israel might turn to as a source of confidence (v.16a) but instead when Israel think of Egypt they will remember their past folly in leaning on them (v.16b) and all will know it is a work of the Lord! (v.16c)

D. Application:

1. If you lean on people, they will fail you.

2. If you lean on the Lord you find strength and security.

Chs. 29 - 32

Chapter: Ezek 29

Passage 26: Ezek 29:17-21 - Against Egypt (3)

A. Find Out

1. When did this next word come? v.17

2. What had happened with Nebuchadnezzar? v.18

3. So what was the Lord going to do? v.19

4. Why? v.20

5. How will Ezekiel be involved? v.21a

6. To achieve what? v.21b

B. Think:

1. Where had Nebuchadnezzar ‘failed'?

2. Why was the Lord going to act on his behalf?

3. How was He going to help him?

C. Comment:

This is a strange element in the great chess game of the nations.. The word of the Lord comes again to Ezekiel (v.17b) but the date indicates it is some years on from the previous ones (v.17a). Time has passed and Nebuchadnezzar has carried out his campaign against Tyre which had lasted fifteen years from 586 to 571BC. It was a long enduring and wearing campaign (v.18) with little sense of reward, but the fact was that in the divine economy he was an instrument that the Lord has used to chastise His own people and other peoples who had treated Israel badly.

In the sense that he was thus a servant of God (unwittingly) the Lord was going to give him satisfaction after this wearisome campaign of coming against Egypt (v.19) which will be very much more rewarding for both him and his men, as a form of reward for serving God (v.20).

When that happens there will come a mouthpiece out of Israel who will declare the truth of what has been going on, and that will be Ezekiel (v.21). Of course the reality is that the Lord wishes to use Nebuchadnezzar to chastise Egypt for His own purposes but it will be a satisfying experience for Nebuchadnezzar. Also bear in mind, from Daniel, that Nebuchadnezzar is going to have such an experience of God (driving him mad for a season) that he is going to come to realise the truth that the Lord is sovereign and has been behind all his own activities as well. We also see here that the Lord wants the truth revealed so people will understand.

D. Application:

1. God is sovereign over all the nations!

2. God desires to communicate with all His world.

Chs. 29 - 32

Chapter: Ezek 30

Passage 27: Ezek 30:1-9 - Against Egypt (4)

A. Find Out

1. What is the nature of the next word coming? v.1,2

2. Who are being spoken against? v.4a,5,6a

3. What is coming? v.3

4. What will this entail? v.4,5b,6b

5. In what will it result? (2 thing) v.7-9

B. Think:

1. Who: who is being warned?

2. What: what will happen?

3. How: how will it come about?

C. Comment:

These words against Egypt come either with a date and the formula “ the word of the LORD came to me,” (e.g. 29:17), or simply that formula or one similar: “This is what the Sovereign LORD says.” (here, v.10,13). In that in the coming verses there are further references to Nebuchadnezzar, we suggest this is to be seen as a continuation of that word in 29:17-21.

The word comes from the Lord (v.1) telling Ezekiel to prophesy (v.2) and proclaim a day of grief (v.2b), a day that is coming, a dark day for nations (note the plural), a day of doom (v.3). It will involve invasion (the sword coming) and Egypt and the area of the upper Nile ( Cush ) will feel it (v.4). There will be death and a striping of the land. But this will be far more extensive than just Egypt ; it will also include neighbouring countries (v.5) who will also fall by the sword.

Then the Lord reiterates this to make the point (v.6) that it will the pride of Egypt that will fall and all her allies. There will not be strength and security in numbers; they will all fall, and don't be under any illusions, the sword that is coming will bring complete destruction (v.7) for them all, as God deals with Egypt who will not be able to rely on these other allies, for they will all suffer the same fortune and they will all realise that this is the work of the Lord (v.8).

The word from the Lord will go out across the sea to these lands (v.9) to make them realise what is coming and it comes from the Lord, and when they hear it, fear will come as they realise the truth.

D. Application:

1. Security in numbers counts for nothing before the Lord.

2. God's eyes are on all nations.

Chs. 29 - 32

Chapter: Ezek 30

Passage 28: Ezek 30:10-19 - Against Egypt (5)

A. Find Out

1. What does the Lord say He will do to Egypt ? v.10,11

2. What picture of Egypt will be left? v.12

3. What and who will He remove from the land? v.13

4. How many places are specifically mentioned? v.14-18

5. What will be the end result? v.19

B. Think:

1. What, do you think, is the purpose of naming all those towns?

2. What sins of Egypt are recorded here?

3. So what is God going to do about it?

C. Comment:

These prophetic warnings come in all different forms. In the previous nine verses of chapter 30 the word had warned against pride and of a destruction that would be coming upon Egypt .

Now that destruction takes on it a personal tone: it will come at the hands of Nebuchadnezzar (v.10). whose army – the most ruthless in the world – will come and bring death (v.11). The land, and even the Nile (and presumably its surrounding land) will be transformed by the devastating work of this army (v.12). God has declared it, so it will happen!

The Lord is coming to remove all the idols that are worshipped in the land (v.13a) and will take away all leadership (that has failed the people) so there are no royal princes left (v.13b)

And then follow a number of verses (v.14-18) listing town after town that will be devastated by this coming army. There appears no logical order in the names and we must conclude they are simply named randomly across the country as if to say, nowhere will be safe, nowhere will be spared. If you live in one of these towns or cities, don't think that your home will be spared; it won't. This is a punishment that is coming on the whole of Egypt and when it has come you will know this is an act of the sovereign Lord.

As we have commented before, this phrase, “ they will know that I am the LORD,” or something similar is uttered by Ezekiel approximately sixty times. This is the prophetic objective clearly spelled out, that people will know this is not chance, it is the Lord.

D. Application:

1. Folly says perhaps God will not see me and my sin.

2. Everything is seen by the Lord.

Chs. 29 - 32

Chapter: Ezek 30

Passage 29: Ezek 30:20-26 - Against Egypt (6)

A. Find Out

1. When did this next word come? v.20

2. What did the Lord say He had done? v.21

3. What will He yet do to ensure that can't happen? v.22

4. What is His overall plan? v.23,26a

5. Who will He use, and how, against Egypt ? v.24,25

6. What will they know at the end? v.26b

B. Think:

1. What is God's purpose in “breaking the arms” of Pharaoh?

2. What do you think that means in practical terms?

3. What is His end goal here?

C. Comment:

The timing of this word (v.20) is interesting. Scholars suggest this date is April 587 and it is probable that the siege of Jerusalem is under way but not yet complete, and so it shows us that Ezekiel is not entirely focused on Israel , but is, in fact, inspired by the Lord to bring whatever words He wants brought to His world.

So the word comes (v.21) against Egypt and it is a strange word. The Lord tells Ezekiel that He has “broken the arm” of Egypt, i.e. He has in some way incapacitated Egypt so that it can no longer “hold a sword” or has no strength to fight. Indeed He will “break both his arms” (v.22) so he is utterly incapacitated.

The truth was that previously Egypt had been a strong and powerful nation, one of the power-brokers of that area, but now the Lord was going to deal with them by bringing Nebuchadnezzar against them (v.24,25) and He will empower Babylon and weaken Egypt so that the result will be that Egypt will be scattered to the nations (v.23,26a).

Again, as before, the end result will be that they will know that this has been an act of God? Why? Because the circumstances will change so much that what was considered impossible has become possible; Egypt who appeared to strong and powerful has become weak and vulnerable and as a consequence has been overrun by the armies of Babylon and Nebuchadnezzar and it's people cast out of their own land. Wow!

D. Application:

1. What looks impossible to man is possible with God.

2. You may appear strong today, but if God intervenes….

Chs. 29 - 32

Chapter: Ezek 31

Passage 30: Ezek 31:1-18 - Against Egypt (7)

A. Find Out

1. Who does the Lord ask what, and when? v.1,2

2. What had Assyria once been like? v.3-9

3. What had the Lord done to it, and why? v.10,11

4. With what outcome? v.12,13

5. So what principle does He establish? v.14

6. What had its fall been like? v.15-17

7. Now how is all this applied? v.18

B. Think:

1. What is the point of the example of Assyria ?

2. How is it applied?

C. Comment:

The word comes from the Lord in the same year (v.1) and again is against Pharaoh and Egypt (v.2) He recognises Egypt 's apparent majesty and power and asks them to consider what happened to Assyria (v.3a). Assyria had been like the mighty cedars of Lebanon, towering above all the other ‘trees' (v.3b). It had plentiful resources (v.4) and so had grown bigger and stronger (v.5) and had become a place of gathering and security for others (v.6), beautiful from its supply (v.7) and unrivalled by any other (v.8), standing out in every way (v.9).

But then it became proud (v.10) and so the Lord handed them over (v.11) to the enemy (?Satan) so ruthless enemy invaders came in (v.12) and devastated it so those who came to it fled from it (v.13). The demonstrated a failure of human nature to grab the glory from God (implied) and become proud, so God establishes a principle that He will stop all such nations becoming like this and will act against them if they do (v.14).

In respect of Assyria , He had held back their resources and it withered (v.15) and grief and mourning followed. Its very fall echoed around the nations causing fear (v.16) and those closely allied to it also fell (v.17). Now here's the point, Pharaoh, the same is going to happen to you (v.18) so don't rely on your strength and beauty because the lesson of Assyria says you too can fall under the Lord's hand! That is what this is all about, a warning to Egypt not to trust in its strength or beauty.

D. Application:

1. Success is so often allied with pride, and pride is folly!

2. No nation is so strong it can withstand God's discipline.

Chs. 29 - 32

Chapter: Ezek 32

Passage 31: Ezek 32:1-16 - Against Egypt (8)

A. Find Out

1. How does the Lord now describe Pharaoh? v.1,2

2. What does the Lord say He will do with him? v.3-6

3. What will happen in creation on that day? v.7,8

4. What effect will it have on other peoples? v.9,10

5. Who will come bringing this judgment? v.11,12

6. What will be the extent of it? v.13-15

7. And who will then do what? v.16

B. Think:

1. What images of Pharaoh does verse 2 convey?

2. How do verses 3 & 4 appear personal?

3. What effects will the downfall of Egypt have?

C. Comment:

How many different ways can you say the same thing? Again and again the same message comes about Egypt . The word now comes again (v.1) and again it is directed against Pharaoh (v.2a) but note this appears more aimed at him as a person rather than at Egypt as a nation. He is described (v.2b) as a lion (wild) and a threshing sea monster (out of control) and so the Lord will send people after him who will ‘net' him (v.3) who will take him out of his natural environment and make him a prey to others (v.4). He will be killed (v.5) and his body spread across the land (v.6) and there will be cataclysmic darkness over the land (v.7,8) and when the onlooking nations see what has happened they will tremble (v.9) because they will realise that they too are vulnerable (v.10).

It will be Babylon (Nebuchadnezzar) that the Lord will use to achieve this (v.11) and their armies will swarm across the land causing destruction (v.12) taking al their cattle (v.13) and causing upheaval until they are finished and then there will be an oily stillness over the waters of the land (v.14) and when everyone in the land has been dealt with by this invading army, they will know that this was a work of the Lord (v.15) and the onlooking nations will sing a song of lament over Egypt (v.16) for the terrible things that have happened to her. Yes, another graphic almost ‘over the top' picture to grab Pharaoh's attention. God is coming for you!

D. Application:

1. It doesn't matter how big or strong we are, God is bigger and stronger!

2. “Resistance is futile!” Repentance is needed.

Chs. 29 - 32

Chapter: Ezek 32

Passage 32: Ezek 32:17-32 - Against Egypt (9)

A. Find Out

1. What was Ezekiel to do for whom and when? v.17,18

2. What, graphically, does he say will happen to them? v.19-21

3. Note the six others who they will find there? v.22-30

4. How does he apply this? v.28

5. What had all these peoples obviously done?

6. So now what will happen? v.31,32

B. Think:

1. What had each of these nations obviously done?

2. But where had they ended up?

3. So how was this applicable now?

C. Comment:

We have asked the question previously, how many ways can you say the same thing? We've lost count, but here is yet another way of saying to Egypt , your days are numbered!

The word comes (v.17), probably in about 586, and comes again against Egypt (v.18) and immediately the setting is revealed: the pit, death, the grave, Hades. Egypt is to be challenged, are you any better than others who have gone to the grave before you? ( v.19) The uncircumcised simply refers to the unrighteous who have no relationship with the Lord, and these are the ones who have died by the sword (v.20) and those who have already gone before will shortly welcome Egypt (v.21).

Already there (wiped out in judgment) are Assyia (v.22) from the north, Elam , a country east of Assyria where Iran is today (v.24), Meshech and Tubal, territories in Asia Minor (v.26), Edom , to the East (v.29) and Sidon in the north (v.30). All these nations, though they were strong and powerful, had to learn that at mighty as they were with the sword, they were not mightier than the Lord and He had consigned them to the grave.

Now it is Pharaoh's turn (v.28), for both he and his armies (v.31), and they will see these others in the grave and realise that they are all alike, people who had brought fear (even in the purposes of God v.32) as they brought violence, (sometimes even as the judgment of God), yet they were still held accountable for their bad actions. Pharaoh, now it's your turn.

D. Application:

1. God WILL hold all nations to account.

2. No one is excluded from God's assessments.

Chs. 29 - 32

RECAP No.4 "Against Egypt" Ch. 29 - 32

SUMMARY :

In this final group of 9 studies we have seen God's word coming again and again against Egypt. Perhaps it would be helpful to note the timing of those words:

In Chronological Order (earliest first)

29:1 tenth year, in the tenth month on the twelfth day, (Jan 7th 587)

30:20 eleventh year, in the first month on the seventh day, (Apr 29th 587)

31:1 eleventh year, in the third month on the first day, (June 21st 587)

32:1 twelfth year, in the twelfth month on the first day, (March 13th 586)

32:7 twelfth year, on the fifteenth day of the month, (possibly Apr 27th 586)

28:17 twenty-seventh year, in the first month on the first day, (Apr 26th 571)

We thus see that most of those words came within a two year period, round about the time of the fall of Jerusalem at Nebuchadnezzar's hand.

COMMENT :

In chapter 29 we have seen Pharaoh rebuked for being a complacent and proud ruler who had not been a friend to Israel when they had looked to them for help, and so the Lord was sending Nebuchadnezzar after him, and their fall and that of their allies was spelled out in chapter 30. God will weaken Pharaoh and strengthen Nebuchadnezzar. Chapter 31 challenges Pharaoh to consider what happened to Assyria (now taken over by Babylonia ) and realise it is folly to trust in their own strength. Chapter 32 brought a lament – a sad song of memory – about Egypt and Pharaoh who, in spiritual terms are now just a past memory. At the end of the chapter they are told to get ready to talk to those in the grave who are like them but for whom strength was just not enough.

In a whole variety of ways, the word of the Lord has come through Ezekiel to Egypt and the message is quite clear: your days are numbered, for Nebuchadnezzar is coming to do the Lord's bidding and your end is near.

PRAY :

Worship the Lord who is sovereign. Worship the Lord who is merciful and compassionate and who warns and warns and warns before He eventually brings the judgment that justice demands.

Chs. 29 - 32

Summary:

Part 1: The Sins of Judah & Jerusalem (1)

Study No.1 : The Groaning Prophet : Ezek 21:1-7

Study No.2 : Here is the Sword! : Ezek 21:8-17

Study No.3 : The Way of the Invader : Ezek 21:18-27

Study No.4 : The Ammonites : Ezek 21:28-32

Study No.5 : Preliminary Judgment : Ezek 22:1-5

Study No.6 : Sins : Ezek 22:6-12

Study No.7 : I will deal with you! : Ezek 22:13-16

Study No.8 : Melted as Dross : Ezek 22:17-22

Study No.9 : Five Guilty Groups : Ezek 22:23-31

Part 2: The Sins of Judah & Jerusalem (2)

Study No.10 : Two Sisters (1) : Ezek 23:1-11

Study No.11 : Continuing prostitution: Ezek 23:11-27

Study No.12 : Summary-Conclusion : Ezek 23:28-35

Study No.13 : Jerusalem Judged : Ezek 23:36-49

Study No.14 : Parable of the Pot : Ezek 24:1-13

Study No.15 : No Mourning for Loss : Ezek 24:14-19

Study No.16 : Sanctuary to be Destroyed : Ezek 24:20-27

Part 3: Against the Neighbours

Study No.17 : Against Ammon : Ezek 25:1-7

Study No.18 : Against Moab , Edom & Philistia : Ezek 25:8-17

Study No.19 : Against Tyre (1) : Ezek 26:1-21

Study No.20 : Against Tyre (2) : Ezek 27:1-36

Study No.21 : Against Tyre (3) : Ezek 28:1-10

Study No.22 : Against Tyre (4) : Ezek 28:11-19

Study No.23 : Against Sidon : Ezek 28:20-26

Part 4: Against Egypt

Study No.24 : Against Egypt (1) : Ezek 29:1-6a

Study No.25 : Against Egypt (2) : Ezek 29:6b-16

Study No.26 : Against Egypt (3) : Ezek 29:17-21

Study No.27 : Against Egypt (4) : Ezek 30:1-9

Study No.28 : Against Egypt (5) : Ezek 30:10-19

Study No.29 : Against Egypt (6) : Ezek 30:20-26

Study No.30 : Against Egypt (7) : Ezek 31:1-18

Study No.31 : Against Egypt (8) : Ezek 32:1-16

Study No.32 : Against Egypt (9) : Ezek 32:17-32

Chs. 29 - 32

CONCLUSION

As we come to the end of these powerful chapters, let's try and highlight some of the key issues:

1. The Grace of God

One definition of grace might be the goodness and love of God which waits patiently and seeks to do all it can to avert disaster, the death of men at the hands of justice, and provide opportunity for them to come to their senses and repent.

If that is a reasonable definition in this context, then we have seen the grace of God displayed in every single chapter of these studies. Yes, perhaps you may think that prophecies of warning and of judgment are not the most edifying reading in the Bible, but the truth is that they display God's grace almost more clearly than anywhere else – especially when you see them against the responses of mankind.

2. The Foolish Responses of Mankind

Any person who denies the existence of Sin has never read these chapters. We have seen a number of times lists of the sins of Jerusalem or the sins of Judah or the sins of the neighbouring nations and folly, stupidity and self-centred evil is displayed again and again. When you consider the ministries of such people as Jeremiah and Ezekiel (and Daniel) all bringing God's warnings in this period of history, there can be no excuses made. The sin of the kings or the priests or the prophets or the people is displayed for all to see. All you have to do it read.

3. And Us?

Hopefully these studies will have displayed the grace of God and the folly of sinful mankind like you've never seen it before. If you have prayed as you have read you will have had the eyes of your heart opened. All that is left is to worship the Lord who is not only sovereign and all-powerful but also a God of grace who seeks to do all He can to bring mankind to their senses. Let's close with words we read in the previous set of studies: “ I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live!” (Ezek 18:32) Worship Him!