20221108

our pride and confidence
Ezekiel 30:10-12 (JDV)
Ezekiel 30:10 “‘This is what the Lord Yahveh says: I will put an end to the processions of Egypt by the hand of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.
Ezekiel 30:11 He along with his people, ruthless men from the nations, will be brought in to destroy the land. They will draw their swords against Egypt and fill the land with the murdered ones.
Ezekiel 30:12 I will make the streams dry and sell the land to evil men. I will bring desolation on the land and everything in it by the hands of foreigners. I, Yahveh, have spoken.
our pride and confidence
The streams Ezekiel refers to are the canals linking the Nile with the farmlands. Isaiah had predicted a similar thing:
Isaiah 19:4 And I will hand over Egypt to a hand of a hard master, and a powerful king will rule over them, a declaration of the Lord Yahveh of armies.
Isaiah 19:5 And water will be dried up from the sea, and river will be parched and dry.
Isaiah 19:6 And rivers will become foul-smelling; the branches of the Nile of Egypt will become little and dry up; reed and rush will wither.
Isaiah 19:7 Bare places by the Nile will be dried up, by the edge of the Nile and all the sown land beside the Nile; it will be pushed about, and there is none of it.
The Egyptians prided themselves on their wonderful river. To suggest that its canals will dry up was an affront to them. These prophets knew that these nations were placing their pride and confidence in the wrong thing. On what are you placing your confidence?
LORD, on you alone will we place our pride and confidence.