Ezekiel 29 to 33
In Egypt the fields are not watered by rains as in most lands, but by the waters of the River Nile; at certain times much water flows into this river from other rivers, so it flows over the banks unto the fields and orchards. Long ago the men there made canals to hold some of the water, and when the rest dries off or flows back, the people plant their grain and vegetables in the wet rich soil, and grow two or more good crops each year.
Do you remember how in the time of Joseph, there was so much grain grown in the good years in Egypt, that people came from other countries to buy? (Gen. 41:5757And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands. (Genesis 41:57)).
There was also a good supply of fish in the river; so the people of Egypt have always depended on the River Nile for their food, and thought so much of it, they have even worshiped it.
Long ago they were a powerful nation, and ruled over other people; their ruler was called Pharaoh; most of these kings seem to have been proud and cruel. The Pharaoh who lived in the time of Ezekiel was especially proud, he said,
“My river is mine own, and I have made it for myself” (vs. 3). He gave no honor to the Lord, and thought he did not need Him.
God told Ezekiel that the king and people of Egypt would be conquered by the army from Babylon, the same as the other nations nearby. He said the land would be “desolate”, and the people would he scattered, and flee to other countries; and even when they did come back after many years, they would not be a great nation, nor rule over other people (Ezek. 29:99And the land of Egypt shall be desolate and waste; and they shall know that I am the Lord: because he hath said, The river is mine, and I have made it. (Ezekiel 29:9) to 12).
All that God told Ezekiel came true; we hear much about Egypt now, but not as a great nation. God told Ezekiel of other nations to be conquered: Moab, Edom and others.
The Lord again told Ezekiel that he should be as a watchman, one who blew a trumpet to warn a city that an enemy was coming; if the watchman blew the trumpet, yet the people did not prepare for the enemy, the watchman was not to blame; but if the watchman did not warn them., he was to blame. Ezekiel was not to stand on the wall to watch for an enemy, but to tell the people that if they kept on in sins, trouble would surely come to them. These are words God told Ezekiel to tell the people of Israel,
The people listened to the words Ezekiel told them, but many did not obey. But when those sorrows came, they knew Ezekiel had told them truly. God said,
God still wants those who believe Him, to tell others His words; He wants all to believe and trust His Son, the Lord Jesus, but if they will not believe Him, God has said judgment or punishment must be for them. Let us remember these words of God, “Lo, it will come.”
ML 05/31/1942