What role does divine justice play in the message of Ezekiel 32:28? Setting the scene • Ezekiel 32 records a lament over Pharaoh and Egypt, announced one year after Jerusalem’s fall (Ezekiel 32:1). • Egypt had been a proud regional power that tempted Israel to trust in human alliances rather than the LORD. • Verses 17-32 list pagan nations already in the grave. The message: Egypt will join them, proving that no nation, however mighty, escapes God’s judgment. The verse in focus “ ‘But you too will be shattered and will lie down among the uncircumcised, with those slain by the sword.’ ” (Ezekiel 32:28) Divine justice highlighted • Certainty of judgment – “You too” ties Egypt’s fate to earlier examples, underscoring that God’s scales are consistent (Romans 2:11). • Equality before God – “Lie down among the uncircumcised” places Egypt with peoples it once disdained (Isaiah 20:4-5). Divine justice erases earthly status distinctions. • Retribution fits the crime – Egypt’s sword had terrorized others; now the sword fells Egypt (Galatians 6:7). • Public testimony – By listing nations in Sheol, the LORD turns the grave into a courtroom exhibit: every hearer sees that rebellion meets a predictable end (Psalm 9:16). Why God’s justice matters 1. Confirms His holiness—He cannot overlook sin (Habakkuk 1:13). 2. Validates His promises—judgment on Egypt proves His earlier warnings (Ezekiel 29:3-6). 3. Protects His people—removing oppressive powers clears the way for Israel’s restoration (Ezekiel 34:28). 4. Invites repentance—if even Egypt falls, no one is exempt; this sobers every generation (Acts 17:30-31). Supporting Scriptures • Psalm 94:1 “O LORD, the God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, shine forth!” • Jeremiah 46:25 “The LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: ‘I am about to punish Amon of Thebes, Pharaoh…’ ” • Revelation 20:12 “And the dead were judged according to their deeds…”—the same principle moves from national to individual accounting. Takeaway truths • Divine justice is not random; it is measured, righteous, and timely. • Nations and individuals alike are accountable to the same moral standard. • God’s track record of judgment guarantees His future reckoning—they stand or fall by His word, not by their own strength. |
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