What lessons can we learn from God's use of foreign nations as instruments? Setting the Stage: Ezekiel 28:7 in Context “Therefore, behold, I will bring against you strangers, the most ruthless of the nations, who will draw their swords against the beauty of your wisdom and defile your splendor.” Tyre’s ruler had exalted himself “as a god” (28:2). The Lord responded by raising up foreign warriors—historically fulfilled through Babylon—to humble that arrogance. From this single verse, and the broader biblical pattern, flow several timeless lessons. God Is Supreme Over All Nations • Psalm 22:28 — “For dominion belongs to the LORD and He rules over the nations.” • Daniel 2:21 — “He changes the times and seasons; He removes kings and establishes them.” • Lesson: World powers never operate outside God’s jurisdiction. Even pagan armies march only when and where He permits. Foreign Powers Become Rods of Discipline • Isaiah 10:5 — “Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger…” • Habakkuk 1:6 — “For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans…” • In Ezekiel 28:7 the “strangers” function as God’s corrective switch, reminding His people that He chastens those He loves (Hebrews 12:6). Human Pride Invites Outside Correction • Proverbs 16:18 — “Pride goes before destruction.” • Tyre’s commercial brilliance bred self-deification. When internal warnings are ignored, the Lord may allow external forces to pierce the armor of self-sufficiency. Instruments Are Not Exempt from Judgment • Isaiah 10:12 — “After the Lord has finished all His work… He will punish the king of Assyria for the arrogance of his heart.” • Jeremiah 50–51 records Babylon’s later downfall. God may wield a nation like a sword, yet afterward she answers for her own sins. Accountability remains universal. Trust Must Rest in the Lord, Not in Borders • Psalm 127:1 — “Unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.” • Political alliances, economic strength, and military technology can vanish overnight when God decrees judgment. Security is covenantal, not merely territorial. Global Events Serve Eternal Purposes • Acts 17:26–27 — “He marked out their appointed times in history… so that they would seek Him.” • Wars, migrations, and regime changes are not random; they press humanity toward repentance and the recognition of the one true King. Takeaway Ezekiel 28:7 pulls back the curtain on history: foreign nations may appear to act on their own, but they are ultimately tools in the Creator’s hand. This reality calls for humble obedience, sober vigilance against pride, and unwavering confidence that every geopolitical shift serves the righteous, redemptive plan of God. |
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