Read Ezekiel 31-32
Verses chosen for meditation: Ezekiel 31:10-11 ESV: Therefore, thus says the Lord: Because it towered high and set its top among the clouds, and its heart was proud of its height, I will give it into the hand of a mighty one of the nations. He shall surely deal with it as its wickedness deserves. I have cast it out.
Reflect
To the proud and mighty who pride themselves and lord over others, who do you think you are? You are nothing compared to some others and nothing at all compared to the One.
To the proud and mighty who pride themselves and lord over others, do you think you will never crumble? You will be made a spectacle of gross and shocking humiliation.
To the proud and mighty who pride themselves and lord over others, do you think others will care if you fall? You will be immediately forgotten and remembered only for your arrogant and foolish ways. You will be found among the outcasts, those whom you detested and despised.
Relate
These two chapters of Ezekiel, appearing almost two - thirds into the book, mark the end of the first - half, which is about judgements, first on Jerusalem and Judah, then on the surrounding powerful nations who were enemies of Israel.
There are altogether 7 prophecies against Egypt, Israel's arch - enemy and sometimes ally. We see the last few of the prophecies here in these chapters. One of them takes the form of an argument of logic against the false sense of security that Egypt maintained while another takes the form of a lament, a eulogy in the most negative sense, for the pharaoh of Egypt.
Then, there is Assyria, the erstwhile world superpower, used as a reference for comparison, whose own cataclysmic fate is described as being analogous to that of a tall, mighty cedar tree felled in its prime.
All these prophecies were given soon before and soon after the fall of Jerusalem during Israel's exile in Babylon. Egypt could have been involved in the fight against Babylon as Israel's ally when God had judged the nation by bringing the Babylonians against them. Egypt was, of course, not defending Israel's cause, but pursuing her own agenda while thinking a world of herself. She had also introduced Israel to many of her foreign gods lest we think Egypt was the 'whipping boy', caught in the crossfire between God and his people.
Far from it, God was making an example of these proud and mighty idolatrous nations. No impunity nor mighty power of theirs, not even of their gods, can save them from the final judgement of God.
What then does this say to you and me? Some of these questions have been posed for reflection in the above segment.
Suffice to say, in His kingdom, there is no room for the proud and mighty, no room for the idolatrous and no room for the wicked and self - centred. Similarly, if you would remember, the world had no room for the lowly babe Jesus.
May this serve as an abject lesson for all of us on the pitfalls of pride and sin. And that no one escapes the long arm of God.
On the other hand, in His kingdom, there will always be room for the weary, the trodden and the lowly as well as for the devoted. For in His kingdom, faith, hope and love are the mainstay. Most of all, love.
Rest
Lord, may we learn from your fine example of humility. True discipleship is premised on learning your way of humility. May we then imitate your humility in the ministries we serve in since you have instructed us to walk humbly in service to others. Let us, therefore, humble ourselves under your strong and mighty hand, that in your good time, you will lift us up.
Naville Chia
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