What lessons can we learn from Pharaoh's failure in Jeremiah 46:17? Setting the Scene Jeremiah 46 is God’s word against Egypt’s army under Pharaoh Necho II after their crushing defeat at Carchemish (605 BC). In verse 17 the prophet sums up the verdict: “They will cry there, ‘Pharaoh king of Egypt is but a noise; he has let the appointed time pass by.’” (Jeremiah 46:17) Pharaoh’s Empty Reputation • “Pharaoh…is but a noise”—all show, no substance. • “He has let the appointed time pass by”—he squandered the decisive moment God set before him. Lesson 1 ― Human Power Quickly Evaporates • Armies, chariots, alliances—none could stop Babylon when God decreed judgment (Jeremiah 46:10). • Psalm 33:16: “No king is saved by the size of his army.” • When God calls a ruler “but a noise,” the mightiest empire collapses. Lesson 2 ― Pride Blinds and Destroys • Pharaoh’s boasting echoes his ancestor in Exodus 5:2: “Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice?”. • Proverbs 16:18: “Pride goes before destruction.” • Pharaoh’s arrogance kept him from seeking the Lord’s counsel; downfall followed swiftly. Lesson 3 ― Missing God’s Timing Has Consequences • “He has let the appointed time pass by.” God sets seasons for repentance or action (Ecclesiastes 3:1). • Egypt had time to humble itself after Josiah’s death and Babylon’s rise, but Pharaoh delayed. • Luke 19:44 warns of people who “did not recognize the time of your visitation.” Lesson 4 ― God Rules Over Nations • Jeremiah 46:25 describes the Lord striking “Pharaoh and Egypt, along with her gods.” • Isaiah 46:9–10: God declares “I will accomplish all My good pleasure.” • Every throne is subordinate to His: comforting for believers, sobering for the proud. Lesson 5 ― False Security Endangers God’s People • Judah hoped Egypt would rescue them from Babylon (Jeremiah 37:7). • Isaiah 31:1: “Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help… but do not look to the Holy One of Israel.” • Trusting worldly power instead of God always disappoints. Lesson 6 ― The Reliability of God’s Word • Jeremiah foretold Egypt’s defeat before it happened; history confirms it. • This accuracy assures us the rest of Scripture—promises and warnings alike—stands firm (Matthew 24:35). Living It Out • Reject self-reliance; place confidence in the Lord’s strength, not reputation or resources. • Cultivate humility—ask God to expose hidden pride before it ruins you. • Seize God-given opportunities for obedience; don’t “let the appointed time pass by.” • Measure every earthly authority by Scripture, remembering who truly reigns. |
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