What lessons can we learn from Tyre's reliance on "great waters" for wealth? Setting the Scene Ezekiel 26–28 paints Tyre as a powerhouse of maritime commerce. “When I bring the deep over you and great waters cover you” (Ezekiel 26:19) signals that the very sea enriching Tyre will one day engulf her. Tyre’s Wealth on the Great Waters • Situated on an island‐harbor, she controlled Mediterranean shipping lanes. • Merchant fleets brought exotic cargoes (Ezekiel 27:12–25). • Proud boast: “I am perfect in beauty” (Ezekiel 27:3). • Wealth and security were thought to be as stable as the tides they sailed. Where Reliance Went Wrong 1. Trust shifted from the LORD to trade. • “By your great skill in trade you increased your riches, but your heart has grown proud” (Ezekiel 28:5). 2. Prosperity produced pride, not gratitude. • Proverbs 16:18—“Pride goes before destruction.” 3. The sea that gave could also take. • Ezekiel 27:26—“Your oarsmen have brought you onto the high seas, but the east wind will shatter you.” 4. Judgment came swiftly, leaving merchants wailing (Ezekiel 27:30-36). Timeless Lessons for Believers • Earthly success is never a substitute for dependence on God. – 1 Timothy 6:17: “Instruct those who are rich… not to set their hope on the uncertainty of wealth.” • The same platform that elevates can also destroy when the LORD withdraws His protection. • Pride blinds us to coming danger. – James 4:13-16 warns traveling merchants against arrogant planning. • Lasting security comes only from obedience and humble trust. – Psalm 20:7: “Some trust in chariots… but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.” • God will overturn any system that exalts itself above Him. – Revelation 18 echoes Tyre’s fall in the lament over Babylon’s collapsed shipping empire. Practical Take-Aways • Hold resources loosely; steward them faithfully. • Measure success by faithfulness, not revenue streams. • Guard the heart—prosperity and humility rarely coexist without intentional effort. • Remember that every platform (career, business, technology) is only a tool; the Lord alone is the source and the end. |
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