Ezekiel 29
Pride of Pharaoh; The Ruin of Pharaoh.This prophecy was given during the tenth year of the captivity, even though it appears after the prophecy against Tyre, which was delivered in the eleventh year. The order is to show that Tyre's destruction happened first, and Egypt’s fall was a reward for Nebuchadnezzar's actions against Tyre. The first prophecy against Egypt came just as Pharaoh was about to try to help Jerusalem during the siege (Jeremiah 37:5 a). But Egypt did not meet the expectations of the Jews. This teaches us not to depend on human help, but to rely on God instead. v. 2: The prophecy is aimed at Pharaoh king of Egypt, and all Egypt . Unlike the prophecy against Tyre, which started with the people, this one addresses the king first. This is because the trouble began with the king, and soon the people would rebel against him. v. 3: Pharaoh Hophrah is compared to a great dragon or crocodile living in the Nile, much like Leviathan in the sea. God says, I am against you. I am above you. Even the most powerful rulers are under God’s authority (Ecclesiastes 5:8 b). God is able to act against those who are proud and oppressive.v. 3–4: Pharaoh is proud and feels safe in his wealth and power. He says, My river is my own; I have made it for myself. He acts as if he is independent, owing nothing to anyone, and forgets that everything comes from God. Pharaoh claims he created the river for himself, which is like taking God’s place as Creator. But only God can say, I have made it for myself (Isaiah 22:11 c). People often make themselves their own greatest idol, forgetting God’s sovereignty. v. 4–5: God promises to humble Pharaoh. Like catching a great fish, God will pull him out of his rivers, removing him from his kingdom and everything he enjoys. Pharaoh will not be able to escape. All those who depend on him—his army and followers—will be taken with him. They will all be left to die, becoming food for animals and birds. This happened when Pharaoh tried to help a neighboring king but was defeated, leading to a rebellion in Egypt. This is a warning that pride and false security lead to downfall. – v. 6–7: God explains why He opposes Egypt. The Egyptians promised to help Israel in their time of need but failed to do so (Ezekiel 29:6–7 d). Egypt was like a weak staff that broke when Israel leaned on it, causing even more harm. Egypt had encouraged Israel to rebel against Babylon with empty promises. This left the Israelites in a difficult position. God had already warned that Egypt was like a broken reed (Isaiah 30:6–7; Isaiah 36:6 e). Even though it was wrong for Israel to trust Egypt, this does not excuse Egypt’s deceit. God will judge Egypt for betraying those who trusted them. It is a serious sin to deceive those who rely on us. – Fall and Restoration of Egypt.This section explains the earlier prophecy, which used symbols, and now gives a clearer prediction about Egypt’s future. It describes both the fall and the later restoration of Egypt. The main reason for Egypt’s downfall is its pride, especially the claim, The river is mine and I have made it (Ezekiel 29:9 f). Because of this pride, God will bring judgment on both the king and the people. Egypt’s land and people will suffer greatly, but after a time, God will allow Egypt to recover, though it will never be as powerful as before.v. 8–9: God says He is against Egypt and its rivers. The people of Egypt will be punished for their pride, for saying, The river is mine and I have made it (Ezekiel 29:9 g). God will bring a sword against Egypt, and many people and animals will die in war. – v. 10–12: The land of Egypt will become empty and ruined. No one will live there or even travel through it. Egypt will be more desolate than other countries. This destruction will stretch from the tower of Syene to the border of Ethiopia. The people will be scattered among other nations. Egypt, once proud and powerful, will become weak and looked down on. Pride can destroy even the greatest nations. – – v. 13–14: After forty years, God promises to bring the Egyptians back from the countries where they were scattered (Ezekiel 29:13–14 h). They will return to their own land and live there again. This shows that God does not stay angry forever, even with those He humbles. – v. 15: Egypt will become a kingdom again, but it will be the weakest of all kingdoms . It will not have much wealth or power and will not rule over other nations as it once did. God allows Egypt to exist, but He keeps it humble so it cannot oppress others. v. 16: Egypt will never again be a source of confidence for Israel . God does this so that His people will not be tempted to trust Egypt instead of Him. Sometimes God takes away things we depend on too much, so we will learn to trust Him alone. God’s actions are not only just, but also wise and good for us, because He wants us to rely on Him, not on other people or nations (Isaiah 43:3 i). A Promise to Nebuchadnezzar.This prophecy was given in the twenty-seventh year of Ezekiel's captivity, which is sixteen years after the earlier prophecies in this chapter. It comes here to explain what God said earlier about Egypt’s fate. During these years, Nebuchadnezzar fought many battles, including a long siege against Tyre. While Egypt struggled with civil wars, God now tells Ezekiel that the complete destruction of Egypt, first predicted many years before, would soon take place through Nebuchadnezzar. This prophecy is connected to the next chapter and is also the last one from Ezekiel. The specific ruin of Pharaoh-Hophrah was also predicted in Jeremiah 44:30 j, and the general devastation by Nebuchadnezzar in Jeremiah 43:10 k. v. 18–20: God promises to give Nebuchadnezzar success against Egypt. God will let him take the land and its treasures as a reward for his hard work in attacking Tyre (Ezekiel 29:19–20 l). The conquest of Egypt will be easy for Nebuchadnezzar, and he will gain much wealth because Egypt has been weakened by its own problems. Even though Nebuchadnezzar worked for his own reasons, God used him to carry out His plans. Nebuchadnezzar and his army did not get much from Tyre, because the people there sent away their valuables and destroyed what was left, so God lets them take Egypt as payment for their efforts. This shows that God is fair, even to those who do not serve Him for the right reasons. Worldly people may receive worldly rewards, but God’s faithful servants wait for a better reward from Him. – – v. 21: God also speaks of hope for Israel. When Nebuchadnezzar is at the height of his power, Israel is at its lowest. But God says, in that day the horn of the house of Israel shall bud forth (Ezekiel 29:21 m). This means Israel will begin to recover and receive honor, especially through the success of their leaders, like Daniel and his friends in Babylon (Daniel 2:49; Daniel 1:3 n). Jehoiachin, king of Judah, is also later released and honored (Jeremiah 52:31–32 o). God also promises to give Ezekiel more freedom to speak, showing that God’s favor is returning to His people. When God’s servants are encouraged and respected, it is a sign of blessing for the whole community.
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