Ezekiel 30
In the begining of this chapter, the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel requesting that he prophecy that the day of the Lord is near. The prophecy spoke about the imminent doom upon nations that had rebelled against God. It's note worthy that Tyre, Sidon and Egypt were experiencing the wrath of God in the previous chapters due to pride and sin to God. The previous chapters God spoke of how Nebuchadnezzar will take over Egypt to punish them just as He had allowed Nebuchadnezzar to take over Tyre.
Ezekiel 30:6 AMP
[6] ¶‘Thus says the Lord, “Those who uphold and support Egypt will fall And the pride of her power will come down; From Migdol [in the north] to Syene [in the south] They will fall within her by the sword,” Says the Lord God.
https://bible.com/bible/1588/ezk.30.6.AMP
The Lord spoke of nations that will be affected and how the news of these destructions and doom will be spread to neighbouring cities and nations. How the fire of God will consume these nations and they will tremble in fear.
From these verses and previous chapters, I learned that pride goes before a fall, God doesn't do some things without revealing to His prophets. Ezekiel was the available vessel God was using at that time. I believe the message was not just for the culprits then but also for those who were in obedient to God. As we are studying this book now, the word is applicable to us and to so many people who have not known God or have been disrespectful or disobedient to Him even if they are in position of authority in this world. God's authority supercedes theirs.
From Verse 10 God spoke of the cessation of Egypt by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the King of Babylon. How their lands will be destroyed, how their rivers will dry and the strangers will rule over them.
Ezekiel 30:18-19 AMP
[18] “In Tehaphnehes the day will be dark When I break the yoke bars and dominion of Egypt there. Then the pride of her power will come to an end; A cloud [of disasters] will cover her, And her daughters will go into captivity. [19] “In this way I will bring judgment and punishment on Egypt. Then they shall know [without any doubt] that I am the Lord.” ’ ”
https://bible.com/bible/1588/ezk.30.18-19.AMP
Through Nebuchadnezzar the Lord planned to remove the pride of Egypt but it was not with ease. It was filled with destruction and wrath of God. This caused me to 🤔 wonder, were all the people guilty, were there innocents people, this pride that made them rebel who started it? The truth is in life some people's decision due to the fact they hold position of authority can destroy the entire nation they rule over.
From verse 20 to 26, the Lord spoke of how he has taken over the arm of Pharaoh and given the King of Babylon victory over Egypt. These concluding verses spoke of the victory of Babylon over Egypt aided by God Himself. So it was not because Babylon had skilled men or chariots of war that made them win it was because God gave Egypt up to Babylon for destruction.
Ezekiel 31
God continued to speak to Ezekiel, this to me shows his readiness and constant availability for God to use him. It's worth reflecting on personally, am I ready for God to use me, am I available for Him, am I aware of the gifts He has deposited in me. How am I fulfilling my purpose for the name of God to be glorified? Not once since the beginning of this book was it documented that God wanted to speak to Ezekiel and he was too busy for God or anything even when His wife died in his period of mourning he still followed God. I pray that I will not be nonchalant towards God's purpose for me in Jesus name amen.
In this chapter God continues to tell Ezekiel about Egypt then there was more concentration on Assyria described as a cedar in Lebanon. It was a refuge for birds, it was well nourished with water flowing under it. It streams flows into all nations it was compared to the cedars in the garden of God.
Ezekiel 31:8 AMP
[8] ‘The cedars in the garden of God could not hide or rival it; The cypress trees did not have boughs like it, And the plane trees did not have branches like it. No tree in the garden of God was like it in its beauty.
https://bible.com/bible/1588/ezk.31.8.AMP
God said He did it on purpose so the trees in Eden would be jealous of it.
Ezekiel 31:9 AMP
[9] ‘I made it beautiful with the great mass of its branches, So that all the trees of Eden which were in the garden of God were jealous of it (Assyria).
https://bible.com/bible/1588/ezk.31.9.AMP
This here just thought me that God can specifically set a nation, a person or whatever He chooses apart. He can make that person or vessel an envy of nations just for His glory.
However if such vessel allows pride or the attention and favour get to their head, it could result in their downfall and separation from God who is meant to be their eternal source.
That's exactly what happened to Assyria.
Ezekiel 31:10-11 AMP
[10] ‘Therefore thus says the Lord God, “Because it is high in stature and has set its top among the thick boughs and the clouds, and its heart is proud of its height, [2 Kin 18:31-35] [11] I will hand it over to a mighty one and a mighty one of the nations; he will most certainly deal with it. I have driven it away in accordance with its wickedness.
https://bible.com/bible/1588/ezk.31.10-11.AMP
As referenced in Ezekiel 31:10-11, King of Assyria allowed pride to get to him, trekking the people not to listen to King Hezekiah who informed them that God will rescue them. King Hezekiah was not just a king but a righteous one at that.
2 Kings 18:31-35 AMP
[31] Do not listen to Hezekiah, for thus says the king of Assyria: “Surrender to me and come out to [meet] me, and every man may eat from his own vine and fig tree, and every man may drink the waters of his own well, [32] until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive trees and honey, so that you may live and not die.” Do not listen to Hezekiah when he misleads and incites you, saying, “The Lord will rescue us!” [33] Has any one of the gods of the nations ever rescued his land from the hand of the king of Assyria? [34] Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad [in Aram]? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah [in the valley of the Euphrates]? Have they rescued Samaria (Israel’s capital) from my hand? [35] Who among all the gods of the lands have rescued their lands from my hand, that the Lord would rescue Jerusalem from my hand?’ ”
https://bible.com/bible/1588/2ki.18.31-35.AMP
This behaviour of his led to the destruction of God upon him and his land. They fell to their grave off the height of pride and disobedience to the Most High God.
Ezekiel 31:15-16 AMP
[15] ‘Thus says the Lord God, “On the day when Assyria went down to Sheol (the place of the dead) I caused mourning; I closed the deep [subterranean waters] over it and restrained its rivers. And the many waters [that contributed to its prosperity] were held back; and I made [the heart of] Lebanon mourn for it, and all the trees of the field wilted away because of it. [16] I made the nations quake at the sound of its fall when I cast it down to Sheol with those who descend into the pit; and all the well-watered trees of Eden, the choicest and the best of Lebanon, will be comforted in the earth beneath [at Assyria’s downfall].
https://bible.com/bible/1588/ezk.31.15-16.AMP
Assyria's behaviour led him to sheol the place of the dead. Indeed the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus Romans 6:23. When you have Christ in you, you understand that pride is not part of God's character, and how can you be like God or please Him if you allow pride to take the center of your life?
