Ezekiel 31:1

Ezekiel 31:1 says, And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the third month, in the first day of the month, that the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,  Ezekiel once more specifies the time and date that God’s word came to him, and at times we may be able to specify a time and date when God’s word came to us calling us to a specific task, but more importantly, we should always hear what God has to say to us every day.   

Verse two adds, Son of man, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, and to his multitude; Whom art thou like in thy greatness?  Ezekiel was to ask the Pharoah what he was like in greatness, or whom he would compare his greatness to.  People often like to compare their greatness or success to other past rulers or even people who are rich and powerful to see how they would rate when compared to these others.  They also often like to think that they are the greatest ever and are filled with self-pride.   

Verse three continues, Behold, the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon with fair branches, and with a shadowing shroud, and of an high stature; and his top was among the thick boughs.  God then begins to speak about Assyria and how great and powerful she had been.  This would be a good example of someone that the Pharoah might want to compare himself to.  If we rate ourselves for greatness, we should always base it on comparing ourselves to someone else who was truly great, but the ultimate comparison would be to Jesus Christ, and we will always fall very short.  Anyone who would say that they are equal to Him is a fool.  All others, no matter how great, either have fallen or will one day fall. 

Verse four concludes, The waters made him great, the deep set him up on high with her rivers running round about his plants, and sent her little rivers unto all the trees of the field.   God said that natural things had made Assyria great, such as the rivers giving water to the crops.  This was due to what God had provided and not due to any particular greatness of the king of Assyria.  We need to realize that whatever success we have in the world today is always due to what God has provided, since He is the Creator of everything, so we should never be filled with self-pride if we have more than others.  I think that we should give thanks to God for our success and use what He blesses us with to help others who are less fortunate.  

Ezekiel 30:20

Ezekiel 30:20 says, And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the first month, in the seventh day of the month, that the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,  Ezekiel gives another specific time when God’s word came to him.  

Verse twenty-one adds, Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and, lo, it shall not be bound up to be healed, to put a roller to bind it, to make it strong to hold the sword.  God told Ezekiel that He had broken the arm, or power, of Egypt and that it wasn’t going to be bound up.  Egypt had long been a powerful nation, but now it was going to be defeated and humbled.  People or nations may gain great power while denying God, but one day, their power will be broken and will never be healed. 

Verse twenty-two continues, Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and will break his arms, the strong, and that which was broken; and I will cause the sword to fall out of his hand.  God said He was against the Pharoah of Egypt and would break his arm and the strong men that served him, and when they were broken, they would be cutoff, or defeated. If God is against us, it doesn’t matter who is for us or how strong they are.  They and we will ultimately be defeated.   

Verse twenty-three continues, And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries. God said that He and not the Babylonians was going to scatter the Egyptians throughout the land where they would be despised instead of feared.  God is the ultimate authority and power of the universe, and no matter who may be in power in the world today, if they do not put their faith in Him, one day they will face the ultimate defeat.   

Verse twenty-four states, And I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, and put my sword in his hand: but I will break Pharaoh's arms, and he shall groan before him with the groanings of a deadly wounded man.  God said that He was the One Who was the source of power for Babylon being able to defeat Egypt, just as He is the source that empowers sin to always be defeated today.  Of course, Babylon's power did not last forever, and if God works through people today who are not followers of Christ to bring about victory over others who are not, it will only be a temporary victory.   

Verse twenty-five adds, But I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, and the arms of Pharaoh shall fall down; and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall put my sword into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall stretch it out upon the land of Egypt.  God said that when He allowed Babylon to defeat Egypt that the Egyptians would then know that He is God, but it would be too late to do them any good.  As stated before, one day when Jesus Christ returns in victory everyone will know that God is God, but for too many, it will be too late to do them any good.  They will still go away to everlasting defeat.   

Verse twenty-six continues, And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and disperse them among the countries; and they shall know that I am the Lord.  God repeated that He was the One Who was going to cause the Egyptians to be scattered and when He did, they would know that He is God.  He gave them a warning, and they didn’t listen, but after it happened, they would know the truth of what He had said.  God gives everyone a warning about what will happen if they don’t put their faith in Jesus Christ, and one day they will know the truth of what He has said, but for too many it will be too late. 

Ezekiel 30:14

Ezekiel 30:14 says, And I will make Pathros desolate, and will set fire in Zoan, and will execute judgments in No.  God continued too list some of the places in Egypt that He was going to destroy through Nebuchadnezzar.  Countries may be defeated by other countries today, but the ultimate victory will be God’s when Jesus Christ returns to claim His church.   

Verse fifteen adds, And I will pour my fury upon Sin, the strength of Egypt; and I will cut off the multitude of No.  God said that He was going to pour out His fury on Sin, the strength of Egypt, and cut off the multitude of No.  One day, those who continue to live by sin and say no to God’s gift of salvation will face His wrath.  God said He was going to destroy all those that Egypt thought were their strength, and one day, this will be true of everyone and everything that we look to for strength instead of looking to God.   

Verse sixteen continues, And I will set fire in Egypt: Sin shall have great pain, and No shall be rent asunder, and Noph shall have distresses daily.  God said when He brought about the destruction of Egypt, that all her great cities, even if they did still exist, would be in great distress.  We may survive God’s judgment in this lifetime, but when His final judgment comes, those who have not accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord will be in everlasting distress.   

Verse seventeen states, The young men of Aven and of Pibeseth shall fall by the sword: and these cities shall go into captivity.  Many of the young men of Egypt, those who were fighting for her, were going to be either killed in battle or taken away captive.  We may never fall by the sword if we don’t accept God’s gift of salvation, but we will be taken away as captives of sin.   

Verse eighteen adds, At Tehaphnehes also the day shall be darkened, when I shall break there the yokes of Egypt: and the pomp of her strength shall cease in her: as for her, a cloud shall cover her, and her daughters shall go into captivity.  God continued to warn the people of Egypt of the coming darkness that they would live in when faced with His judgment.  He also said that their daughters would be taken away captive.  The young men would be killed and the young women taken away captive, so there would be little hope for the future of Egypt as long as it was under God’s judgment.  There will never be hope for the future for anyone who denies God’s gift of salvation.   

Verse nineteen continues, Thus will I execute judgments in Egypt: and they shall know that I am the Lord.  God said that when He executed His judgment on Egypt, even if this was done by another nation, that the people of Egypt would know that He is God, because He had told them it was going to happen before it did.  One day, those who are sent away to everlasting punishment will know that God is God, even if they refused to believe it before then.