Ezekiel 29

Ezekiel 29:1

G. Prophecy against Egypt (Chaps. 2932)The seventh and last nation in this catalog of judgments is Egypt (Chaps. 2932). These seem to be the most unsparing judgments of all. Without the River Nile, Egypt would be dead, and one would expect its people to cherish life. But no, Egypt is the land of death. Its most famous book is the Book of the Dead. Its greatest monuments are the pyramids, which are huge tombs. Its kings built small palaces but huge sepulchers, and they were embalmed to enjoy their time in the grave! The heart of the Egyptian is quite unimpressed facing death, full of self-assertion. Therefore judgment had to come over Egypt, which nation in the Bible is a picture of the world, especially as being without God.

1. General Threat against Pharaoh and His People (Chap. 29)29:1-12 In verses 1-5, Pharaoh is compared to a crocodile in the great River Nile. This crocodile is proud, but short-sighted. The fish are the people of Egypt. All are to be punished by God. In looking to Egypt for help, Israel had leaned on a broken reed (vv. 6-9a). Egypt receives the most severe judgment because it was unreliable and untrustworthy. If we as believers have this character flaw, with the Lord’s help we need to change. He is in the character-changing business. Because of Pharaoh’s pride, the land of Egypt would be desolate for forty years (vv. 9b-12). 29:13-21 Then God would gather the people, but Egypt would never be a great kingdom again, and Israel would no longer look to it for help (vv. 13-16). Nebuchadnezzar had worked hard besieging Tyre, but received no wages for it (because the people fled to the island fortress with their possessions). Therefore God would give him Egypt as his wages (vv. 17-20). In the day that Nebuchadnezzar received Egypt as his pay, God caused the horn of the house of Israel to bud forth (a revival of power of which we have no other mention) and Ezekiel declared God’s message to the people (v. 21).