Revelations 22:12-21

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Read Revelations 22:12-21 Verses for meditation: Revelations 22:12-13, 16, 20-21 ESV: 12 "Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” 16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” 20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! 21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen. Reflect How does it feel to be reading the very last few verses of the bible? What do the proclamations, the last few of them, say about Christ? Come, Lord Jesus! Does this really express our desire? How does the greatest book end, and on what note? But is this really the end? Relate With mixed feelings, I'm writing this last devotion based on the final ten verses of the greatest book, the bible. What a journe...
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Ezekiel 29-30 "Let God be the judge"

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READ: Ezekiel 29 - 30.

Verses chosen for meditation: Ezekiel 29:8-9, 30:24-26.

8 Therefore thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will bring a sword upon you, and will cut off from you man and beast, 9 and the land of Egypt shall be a desolation and a waste. Then they will know that I am the Lord. “Because you said, “The Nile is mine, and I made it,”  .. . 

24 And I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon and put my sword in his hand, but I will break the arms of Pharaoh, and he will groan before him like a man mortally wounded. 25 I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, but the arms of Pharaoh shall fall. Then they shall know that I am the Lord, when I put my sword into the hand of the king of Babylon and he stretches it out against the land of Egypt. 26 And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them throughout the countries. Then they will know that I am the Lord.” 

 

REFLECT

Reading from the previous few chapters until chapter 30, we recognise both similarities and contrasts with regards to the destinies of Judah, Egypt, and the surrounding nations.

Like the prophecy against the arrogance of Tyre’s prince (Ezekiel 28:2), Yahweh also pronounced judgement on Egypt because of what she proclaimed,” My Nile is my own, I made it for myself” (Ezekiel 29:3). This was the proud boast of Egypt and her Pharaoh. They refused to honour and recognise God as the Creator and owner of all. God did not hesitate to teach Pharaoh a lesson, for He is a jealous God who hates arrogance.

Reading on, the chapters reveal the Lord’s prophecies to Ezekiel with the downfall of Edom, Tyre, Egypt, and all other surrounding nations of Israel. Like the lamentation over the king of Tyre (Ezekiel 27-28), Ezekiel also prophesied against Pharaoh and lamented over Egypt’s desolation in chapters 29, 30 and beyond.

Indeed, the Lord’s impending judgement upon Egypt and her people was desolation and destruction. Yahweh pronounced that He would stop, capture, and displace Egypt, all because of her wickedness. In contrast to Egypt’s final destiny, God’s ultimate plan for Judah was future hope, not “permanent destruction” but renewal of His covenant to heal and save, beyond her exile.

 

RELATE

While Egypt was one nation that God intended to destroy (Ezekiel 29:8), God on the other hand was to rescue the Israelites from all the places where they were scattered. This was Ezekiel’s assurance to God’s people when they were exiled. As vindication for His people, God will ultimately restore the nation of Judah, whereas the other nations were deemed for destruction. God is utterly trustworthy with His promise not to forsake His people; He did not plan to destroy them forever. Being merciful, God is to pursue and rebuild His people, to grant them a chance to turn back to Himself and worship Yahweh once again. God's appeal to us is also to return, for He has not given up on us.

To proof to Pharaoh that God is unbeatable and unstoppable in His judgement on Egypt, He subdued this arrogant and once a powerful nation (2 Kings 18:20-21) through another stronger power. The passage in Ezekiel 30:20-30 describes that God will break Egypt’s power by breaking Pharaoh’s arm (“arm” is the metaphor for ability). God will personally strengthen King Nebuchadnezzar’s arm to overcome Pharaoh’s arm (Ezekiel 30:24-26). However matchless Egypt could be, and for all his arrogant pretensions, her earthly power was no match for Yahweh! God showed forth His might here again, so that all will know that He is Lord. Indeed, our God who is all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-wise, righteous, and perfect is the Defender for us.

Take comfort friends – our God desires so much for us to return to Him. Do not even try to "fight God" with our sins. Our Lord is a righteous God, un-compromising in dealing with sins. He is also more than able to deal with those who were unjust to us. Just like His salvation plan for the remnant, He will defend His people in His time and lift them up from any shame or injustice. Such kind of God-understanding and God-awareness would deepen our trust to embrace His plans with the assurance that everything comes under His personal surveillance.

 

REST

A song to share:” He Is Yahweh” by Awaken Generation. https://open.spotify.com/track/5phpCHWyhMDhMfvIKWbe5N?si=fb7be8bed7ae47b2

Vincent

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