Read Ezekiel 29:1 through 32:32
Swelled with pride. A legend in his own mind. Too big for his
britches. All these phrases describe Pharaoh Hophra, who had
allowed his personal successes to go to his head (Ezekiel 29:3).
Along the way, the pharaoh had
mistakenly decided that he was the reason for his own success,
that he was the reason he had accumulated great wealth. And the
Egyptians had begun to believe the same thing and follow him.
The Egyptians revered him as a god, and as the one who could
provide their security.
Then God decided that the proud leader and his followers needed
a dose of humility, and he told Ezekiel to deliver the message
in today’s reading.
Pharaoh and the Egyptians’ failure is obvious: They failed to
recognize that God was the provider of everything they owned.
They failed to recognize God as the true owner of their
possessions, and then use them to display God’s lordship.
All that we have is a gift from God, given to us for the purpose
of furthering His kingdom. The misguided Egyptians learned the
painful way that God is Lord of all. |
