How does Ezekiel 29:7 connect with other scriptures on trusting God over man? Ezekiel 29:7—A Picture of Crushed Confidence “When they grasped you with the hand, you splintered and tore their shoulders; when they leaned on you, you shattered and made their bodies go limp.” • The “you” is Egypt, once viewed by Israel and other nations as a sturdy staff. • God exposes Egypt as a brittle reed: lean on it and you end up wounded. • The verse illustrates the folly of depending on any human power in place of the LORD. Human Supports Fail—Scriptures That Echo the Warning • Psalm 118:8-9 — “It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man… princes.” • Psalm 146:3 — “Put not your trust in princes, in mortal man, who cannot save.” • Jeremiah 17:5 — “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength.” • Isaiah 30:2-3 — Egypt’s promised shelter “will become your shame.” • Isaiah 31:1 — “Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help… but do not look to the Holy One of Israel.” • Isaiah 36:6 (cf. 2 Kings 18:21) — Egypt called “that splintered reed of a staff.” The Unbreakable Alternative—Trusting the LORD • Jeremiah 17:7-8 — “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD… like a tree planted by the waters.” • Proverbs 3:5-6 — “Trust in the LORD with all your heart… He will make your paths straight.” • 2 Chronicles 32:7-8 — “With him is only an arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God.” Why the Connection Matters Today • Every culture has its own “Egypts”—financial security, politics, relationships, technology. • Like brittle reeds, these props can splinter under pressure, leaving deeper wounds. • God alone possesses eternal strength and covenant faithfulness; He never shatters under the weight of our need. Living the Lesson • Evaluate who or what you instinctively reach for when pressure mounts. • Deliberately replace misplaced dependence with Scripture-shaped confidence in the LORD. • Celebrate testimonies—biblical and personal—of God’s proven reliability. Ezekiel 29:7 stands as a vivid reminder: lean on man and be pierced; lean on God and be upheld. |
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