What is the meaning of Ezekiel 29:20? I have given him the land of Egypt “I have given him the land of Egypt” shows the Lord Himself transferring real territory to Nebuchadnezzar. Scripture treats this as a historical fact, not a metaphor. • God’s sovereignty is on display; He alone can hand nations over (Jeremiah 27:6; Ezekiel 30:10). • Even a pagan king receives authority only because “the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom He wishes” (Daniel 4:17). • Egypt’s impending fall fulfills earlier warnings that its pride would be humbled (Ezekiel 29:3-6). as the reward for his labor The Babylonian armies had besieged Tyre for years without adequate plunder (Ezekiel 29:18). The Lord now compensates them: • “The worker is worthy of his wages” is a principle God honors even when the worker is unaware of Him (Luke 10:7; compare Ezekiel 29:19). • By permitting Babylon to loot Egypt’s wealth, God settles a literal “paycheck” for the exhausting campaign against Tyre. • This moment underscores that no effort spent in carrying out God’s plans—willingly or unwillingly—goes unpaid (Proverbs 11:18). because it was done for Me The conquest of Tyre (and later Egypt) served God’s larger purposes of judgment and purification: • The Lord calls Nebuchadnezzar “My servant” (Jeremiah 25:9), just as He later calls Cyrus “My shepherd” (Isaiah 44:28), proving He can enlist any ruler. • Though Babylon sought its own glory, God steered its campaigns to topple nations steeped in idolatry (Ezekiel 30:13-19). • Acts 4:27-28 echoes this theme: rulers act freely, yet accomplish “whatever Your hand and Your plan had predestined to take place.” declares the Lord GOD This closing formula stamps the prophecy with divine authority: • Every promise or threat bearing this seal is certain; “God is not a man, that He should lie” (Numbers 23:19). • Ezekiel repeatedly uses the phrase so his hearers know the words come from the covenant-keeping God (Ezekiel 17:24; 24:14). • Because the statement is the Lord’s declaration, believers can trust its literal fulfillment in history. summary Ezekiel 29:20 teaches that God, as absolute Sovereign, rewards even an unbelieving king for unwitting service to His purposes. Nebuchadnezzar receives Egypt—real land, real wealth—as compensation for the exhausting siege of Tyre, a labor God counts as done for Him. The verse showcases the Lord’s justice in payment, His control over nations, and the certainty of His proclaimed word. |
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