Connect Ezekiel 29:19 with other biblical instances of God using nations for His purposes. Connecting Ezekiel 29:19 “Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I will give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he will carry off its wealth. He will take its spoil and seize its plunder; it will be his army’s wages.’” Why This Matters • God isn’t scrambling to react to history; He directs it. • Nations—even pagan superpowers—are tools in His hand to accomplish precise purposes. • Ezekiel 29:19 is one snapshot of a sweeping biblical pattern. Other Times God Put Nations to Work • Assyria—“the rod of My anger” – Isaiah 10:5-6: “Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger… I will send him against a godless nation… to seize the spoil, to carry off the plunder.” – Purpose: Discipline rebellious Israel. • Babylon—“My servant” – Jeremiah 25:9: “I will summon… My servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon… and I will bring them against this land.” – Purpose: Fulfill the seventy-year exile foretold by Jeremiah. • Chaldeans—Answer to Habakkuk’s complaint – Habakkuk 1:6: “For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans, that ruthless and impetuous nation…” – Purpose: Judge Judah’s injustice. • Egypt’s Pharaoh—raised up to display God’s power – Exodus 9:16: “But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display My power in you.” – Quoted in Romans 9:17 to underscore God’s sovereignty. • Persia’s Cyrus—God’s anointed liberator – Isaiah 45:1: “Thus says the LORD to Cyrus His anointed… to subdue nations before him.” – 2 Chronicles 36:22-23: Cyrus frees the exiles and funds the temple’s rebuilding. • Rome—instrument in the crucifixion plan – Acts 2:23: Jesus was “delivered up by the deliberate plan and foreknowledge of God,” executed “with the help of lawless men.” – Purpose: Accomplish redemption. What We Learn About God’s Strategy • He rewards or “pays” nations (Ezekiel 29:19) for tasks He assigns—even when they act from selfish motives. • He can simultaneously judge one people, refine another, and advance His redemptive story. • No king, empire, or modern superpower operates outside His jurisdiction. • His promises never fail; every geopolitical shift bends toward His stated ends. Personal Takeaways • History is not chaotic but choreographed by the Lord. • Trust grows when we see today’s headlines through the lens of God’s proven track record. • Because He rules nations, He surely governs individual lives with the same precision and faithfulness. |
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