“Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and he shall carry off its wealth and despoil it and plunder it; and it shall be the wages for his army” (Ezek 29:19).
In the news, we hear of changing political fortunes, as well as unrest and uncertainty in many nations. We need more faith to remember that God is still on His heavenly throne overseeing the rise and fall of nations.
Nebuchadnezzar left Tyre after an unsuccessful 13 year siege.
In Ezekiel’s text, God makes reference to the thirteen sieze of Tyre by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon (585-572 BC). “Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon made his army labor hard against Tyre; every head was made bald and every shoulder was rubbed bare. But he and his army had no wages from Tyre for the labor that he had performed against it” (Ezek. 29:18). The Babylonian king was God’s agent in punishing Tyre for their pride and greed, which partially fulfilled Ezekiel’s prior prophecy of God bringing “many nations” against Tyre (cf. Ezek 26:1-3, 28:2). The mainland city of Tyre was eventually destroyed by the Babylonians but they shipped their wealth to the safety of an offshore island (later years captured by Alexander the Great). So, Nebuchadnezzar had no spoils from Tyre to pay his soldiers or compensate him for doing God’s work of judgment.
“I have given him the land of Egypt for his labor which he performed, because they acted for Me,” declares the Lord GOD” (Ezek. 29:20). God took note of this inequity of coming up empty against Tyre. In appreciation and just compensation for the Babylonians’ work, God gave Nebuchadnezzar the land of Egypt, which also was judged by God for their pride (Ezek 29:3-9). God rules in the nations still today!
In the time of national political campaigns in the United States, we should remember the words of Benjamin Franklin from 1787 at the Constitutional Convention in an appeal for prayer to God to begin their deliberations, which had become contentious:
“We have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights to illuminate our understandings…. The longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth- that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings, that ‘except the Lord build the House they labour in vain that build it.’ I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel.”
This is the background of U.S. Congress beginning each session with prayer to God.
We need to remember God’s sovereign words to Ezekiel that He is in ultimate control of the fate of nations, whether they prosper or fall. He has a greater plan of redemption that transcends whatever the latest political headlines are. We can cease fretting and “recognize that the Most High is the ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes” (Dan. 4:25).
Similar Posts:
- Trust God with Spiritual Investments / March 11, 2011 / Frank Walton
- The Lost Diary of Nadab and Abihu Found! / February 22, 2009 / Frank Walton
- Moving Self Out Of The Center / May 29, 2009 / Todd Stickler
