How does Ezekiel 29:20 connect with God's promises in other Old Testament passages? “ I have given him the land of Egypt as the reward for which he labored, because they worked for Me, declares the Lord GOD.” What the verse shows about God’s character • He keeps precise accounts of service rendered, even by unbelieving rulers. • He distributes reward and judgment exactly as promised. Linked promises of divine recompense • Jeremiah 25:9, 27:6; 43:10 – God calls Nebuchadnezzar “My servant,” promising him conquest as payment for executing judgment. • Isaiah 45:1-3 – Cyrus is likewise promised “treasures of darkness” for doing the Lord’s purposes. • Deuteronomy 32:35 – “Vengeance is Mine, and recompense”; God pledges to settle every score. • Proverbs 13:22 – “The wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous,” illustrating God’s right to transfer possessions at His will. Promises concerning Egypt • Isaiah 19:1-4 – God foretells humiliation of Egypt by a “cruel master.” • Jeremiah 46:25-26 – He vows to hand Egypt over to Nebuchadnezzar, matching Ezekiel 29:20. • Ezekiel 30:10-12 – “Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon will take Egypt and carry off her wealth.” Promises tied to Israel’s future • Ezekiel 29:21 – Right after rewarding Babylon, God promises, “I will make the horn of the house of Israel spring forth.” • Jeremiah 29:10-14 – After Babylon’s seventy years, God vows to restore His people. • Isaiah 44:26 – He confirms the words of His servants and fulfills the counsel of His messengers. Putting it together • Ezekiel 29:20 displays God’s faithfulness in rewarding labor done for Him, connecting to His broader pledge to repay every deed (Proverbs 11:31). • The verse dovetails with prophecies that Egypt would fall and that Babylon would be God’s instrument (Jeremiah 46; Isaiah 19), proving His threats were not empty. • By keeping these promises, God simultaneously sets the stage for Israel’s restoration, showing that judgment on the nations and blessing for His people advance together (Jeremiah 30:11). |
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