The Fall of Pharaoh, the Rise of Babylon

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Ezekiel 30:20-26

 

Ezekiel 30:25

 Thus I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, but the arms of Pharaoh shall fall down; 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.

(NKJV)

 

We live in the age of the mega-church or churches with massive congregations. While these churches may have had a great harvest of souls, the truth is many of these churches, and I use the term loosely, grew on a message designed to make congregants feel good and not challenged to draw closer to God. In many of these churches, God fills the role of Santa Claus, giving people whatever they want by saying it, claiming it and contributing to the Church. Our sinful world needs more churches that declare the truth of God’s word with lives transformed. Biblical Church growth is not growth in numbers but growth in transformed lives transformed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

Ezekiel receives another word from the Lord, this time directed at Pharaoh the king of Egypt (Ezekiel 30:20). The word to Pharaoh is that the Lord has broken his arm and not bandaged it or put it in a sling so Pharaoh is not strong enough to hold a sword (Ezekiel 30:21). The Lord lets Pharaoh know He is against him by breaking both his arms so the sword falls out of his hand (Ezekiel 30:22). This loss of the sword for defense means the Egyptians will be scattered among the nations and dispersed throughout the countries (Ezekiel 30:23). This prophecy foretells the fall of Pharaoh.

 

The Lord then foretells the rising of another kingdom. While the arms of Pharaoh are broken and unable to handle a sword, the arms of the king of Babylon are strengthened and with the sword of the Lord in his hand causes Pharaoh to groan before the king like a mortally wounded man (Ezekiel 30:24). The stretching out of the sword of the Lord by the king of Babylon to Pharaoh will cause the Egyptians to know the Lord is God (Ezekiel 30:25). The Lord will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them throughout the countries where they will come to know the Lord is God (Ezekiel 30:26).

 

Once again, we see God speaking to Egypt about the coming conquest by Babylon, but with Israel contemplating fleeing to Egypt for protection, this prophecy also warns Israel not to put their trust in Egypt. The prophet Isaiah also warned Israel not to turn to Egypt for help (Isaiah 31:1). The prophet Jeremiah prophesied safety and peace for Israel in Babylon (Jeremiah 29:4-14). The irony here is that the people looking for safety in Egypt are seeking to escape Babylonian captivity, only to escape to a place the Babylonians will destroy. The purpose of exile for Israel was to bring them to repentance and trust in God and not the might and riches of the world.

 

Believers in Jesus as Savior want to see the Church grow in numbers for it can indicate a harvest of souls. However, Church leaders must resist the temptation to achieve numerical growth through the compromising of truth and stick to the mission of spreading the Gospel and making disciples (Acts 1:8; Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20). Pastors are shepherds of a flock of individuals they are to lead and teach according to the principles of the word of God.

 

The Apostle Paul warned Timothy of a time when people would have itching ears that are not interested in truth but in what helps them fulfill their own desires (2 Timothy 4:3). The Church in Laodicea became lukewarm because it was full of pride in its riches and wealth, believing it needed nothing when we all need a Savior for we have all sinned (Revelation 3:14-22; Romans 3:23). Is this any different than the wealth and prosperity gospel taught in many churches today? Those preaching this message amas large congregations with an appearance of success but the teaching uplifts self more than Christ. I pray that pastors and leaders of the Church would repent of such false doctrine and return to the mission of the Church given to it by Christ (Acts 1:8; Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20). The harvest of souls is indeed plentiful but the laborers are few (Matthew 9:37).

 

If you are reading this and have not prayed for the forgiveness of your sins making Jesus the Lord of your life, or have drifted away from your relationship with Christ, I invite you to pray with me now,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

May God challenge, convict, and bless everyone reading this post.