What lessons can we learn from Egypt's pride and God's judgment? Setting the Scene: Ezekiel’s Lament over Pharaoh “Son of man, take up a lament for Pharaoh king of Egypt and say to him: ‘You were like a young lion among the nations; you were like a monster in the seas, thrashing about in your rivers, churning the waters with your feet and muddying the streams.’” (Ezekiel 32:2) Lesson 1: Pride Thrives on False Security • Egypt trusted its geography and the life-giving Nile (Ezekiel 29:3: “The Nile is mine; I made it”). • Political power, military strength, and economic wealth produced an illusion of invincibility. • Proverbs 16:18—“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” • When our confidence shifts from the Lord to our own resources, we replay Egypt’s mistake. Lesson 2: God Resists the Proud but Gives Grace to the Humble • James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5 both affirm that “God opposes the proud.” • Pharaoh postured “like a young lion,” yet God reduced him to a carcass for the birds and beasts (Ezekiel 32:4-5). • Humility invites divine favor; pride invites divine resistance—always. Lesson 3: National Pride Invites National Judgment • Egypt joins a long line of arrogant nations—Assyria (Ezekiel 31), Tyre (Ezekiel 28), Babylon (Isaiah 13-14). • Jeremiah 46:25—“The LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: ‘I will punish Amon of Thebes, Pharaoh, Egypt, her gods, and her kings.’” • God holds rulers and nations accountable for exalting themselves above Him. Lesson 4: Judgment Is Certain, Even If Delayed • Egypt’s downfall was prophesied years before it occurred (Ezekiel 29-32); history confirms the fulfillment. • 2 Peter 3:9—Divine patience is not divine approval; judgment, though delayed, is sure. • Delay served God’s purposes: to warn, to offer time for repentance, and to make judgment unmistakable. Lesson 5: God’s Purposes in Judgment Are Redemptive • Through Egypt’s collapse, surrounding nations and Israel would “know that I am the LORD” (Ezekiel 29:6). • God simultaneously humbled Egypt and prepared Israel for restoration (Ezekiel 36:22-24). • Even severe discipline showcases God’s sovereignty, holiness, and faithfulness. Walking in Humble Obedience Today • Examine where confidence rests—bank account, reputation, abilities, or the Lord. • Cultivate thankfulness; gratitude chokes out pride. • Seek God’s glory, not personal acclaim, in every success. • Remember: nations and individuals stand or fall by their response to God’s authority. |
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