What does God's gift to Nebuchadnezzar reveal about His justice and judgment? Setting the Scene • Ezekiel 29:18–20 records a real historical arrangement: Nebuchadnezzar besieged Tyre for years and came away empty-handed. • God therefore says, “I have given him the land of Egypt as pay for laboring for Me” (Ezekiel 29:20). • The same act that rewards Babylon simultaneously judges Egypt for its pride (Ezekiel 29:3). God Credits Labor, Even from Pagan Hands • “The worker is worthy of his wages” (Luke 10:7; 1 Timothy 5:18) is a principle rooted in God’s own character. • Nebuchadnezzar’s army “labor[ed] for Me” (29:20). God keeps perfect accounts; unpaid effort does not go unnoticed. • Justice is impartial. Even a pagan king is recompensed when he unknowingly fulfills God’s purpose (cf. Jeremiah 25:9; 27:6, where God calls Nebuchadnezzar “My servant”). Justice Wrapped in Judgment • One decree accomplishes two sides of justice: – Reward: Babylon receives Egypt’s wealth as wages. – Retribution: Egypt’s arrogance is crushed. • “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne” (Psalm 89:14). God’s judgments always fit the crime and the effort involved. • By turning Egypt over to Babylon, the Lord proves He sees both wrongs (Egypt’s pride) and rights (Babylon’s toil). Universal Sovereignty • “He removes kings and establishes them” (Daniel 2:21). • “The Most High has granted you sovereignty” (Daniel 2:37–38, to Nebuchadnezzar). • Proverbs 21:1 affirms that a king’s heart is in God’s hand. His justice is therefore global, not limited to Israel. Echoes in the Rest of Scripture • Isaiah 45:1–4 – Cyrus, another Gentile ruler, is similarly rewarded for releasing Israel, though he does not know the Lord. • Romans 13:1 – Earthly authorities exist “by God’s appointment,” meaning His justice can reach us through them. • Psalm 75:7 – “God is the Judge: He brings one down, He exalts another,” summarizing Egypt’s fall and Babylon’s rise. Personal Takeaways • God’s justice is meticulous; nothing done for or against His purposes is overlooked. • He can use anyone—believer or unbeliever—as an instrument of righteous judgment. • Rewards and punishments may arrive through unexpected channels, but they always arrive. • Trusting His sovereignty counters fear: if He governs pagan empires, He surely governs present circumstances. |
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