Ezekiel 29-30
Dear RTB’ers,
Today, an oracle against Egypt (chapter 29) and a lament for her (chapter 30). The oracle against Egypt is different from other oracles in three ways. First, the Lord says that Egypt will recover: At the end of forty years I will gather the Egyptians from the peoples among whom they were scattered, and I will restore the fortunes of Egypt and bring them back to the land of Pathros, the land of their origin, and there they shall be a lowly kingdom. It shall be the most lowly of the kingdoms, and never again exalt itself above the nations. And I will make them so small that they will never again rule over the nations. (vv. 29:13b-15) God has said the same about Judah, that after He has punished them that He will restore them. However, Judah’s restoration will be with might, not like Egypt’s weakened kingdom.
A second item noted above is that the Lord’s problem with Egypt seems to be less about idol worship or their brutality and revenge against Judah, but rather that Judah had been turning to Egypt for help and Egypt had been assisting: And it shall never again be the reliance of the house of Israel, recalling their iniquity, when they turn to them for aid. (v. 29:16) The Lord wanted Israel to call on Him, not on Egypt or any other nation. You’ll recall how strongly Jeremiah offered the same message.
A final item today is how the Lord used Nebuchadnezzar against Egypt. Babylon had been sent to Tyre to do battle against them. They had fought long and hard (my Study Bible said fifteen years), but failed to overtake Tyre. So the Lord gave Egypt as Babylon’s reward: Behold, I will give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and he shall carry off its wealth and despoil it and plunder it; and it shall be the wages for his army. (v. 29:19)
I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will do it. (v. 17:24b)
Blessings.
See also: August 3 (2023) / Ezekiel 6-7; 29:1-16; 30:20-31:18 (again).