Readings for today: Ezekiel 29-32
Egypt. Assyria. Babylon. Three of the mightiest empires in history. Each of them ruled for a time over thousands of miles. They conquered kingdoms. They accumulated great wealth and power. Their kings ruled over nations. However, each of them was eventually humbled under God’s mighty hand. “Consider Assyria, a cedar in Lebanon, like a forest giving shade, and extremely tall; its top reached to the clouds.” (Ezekiel 31:3 NET) Though it was beautiful and counted among the trees of the Garden of Eden, God gave it over to the nations. He judged her for her sin. He brought foreigners from many nations to cut her down. The same was true for Egypt. “You were like a lion among the nations, but you are monster in the seas; you thrash about in your streams, stir up the water with your feet, and muddy your streams.” (Ezekiel 32:2b NET) God would throw a net over her. Drag her up from the Nile on which she depended and leave her gasping for life on the open ground. “I will fling you on the open field, I will allow all the birds of the sky to settle on you, and I will permit all the wild animals to gorge themselves on you.” (Ezekiel 32:4 NET) The same would eventually hold true for Babylon. Though God used her as the instrument of His righteous judgment in the world, she too would one day fall into ruin.
God remains sovereign. Not just over ancient near nations like Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Elam, Meshech-Tubal, Edom, and the Sidonians but over all nations and tribes and people groups throughout history and throughout the world today. When we look around and see what’s happening in places like Ukraine or Gaza or Iran or in places that don’t get as much press like South Sudan or Myanmar or the militant and gang violence in places like the Sahel, South Asia, and Latin America; it’s easy to wonder where God is in the midst of it all. Is He sovereign? Is He sitting on His throne? If so, why does He not act to bring an end to all the violence? Why does He not bring judgment on all the evil? Why does He not intervene to stop all the suffering? But what if God is doing what He has always done? What if God remains committed to His original plan? What if He is bringing about His sovereign will even in the midst of all the sin and suffering just like He did during Ezekiel’s time? And what if He allows all the violence and pain to bring humanity to her knees so that she once again “will know that I am the Lord.” (Ezekiel 29:9b NET)
God has made Himself clear. He entrusted humanity with dominion over all He has made. He has never wavered from that commitment. He remains faithful. He remains true to His Word. And thankfully, He reigns sovereign over all things, including every choice every human being ever makes, and is therefore more than able to bend it to His eternal purposes. This is why the Apostle Paul says, “And we know all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28 NET) Paul trusts God’s sovereign plan. Paul trusts God’s sovereign power and authority. Paul trusts God’s sovereign will. He knows God is at work even when he cannot see it. He knows God’s hand is directing the nations even when he cannot discern how. He knows the kings and rulers of this earth only serve because God allows it. Most of all, he knows there is coming a day when God will bring an end to evil once and for all and establish His eternal kingdom on earth. How does he know this for sure? Because of Jesus. Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection is God’s down payment on this world and all He has made. Jesus is God’s guarantee that one day all things will be made new.
Readings for tomorrow: Ezekiel 33-36