Read Ezekiel 32
A Lament Over Pharaoh
32 In the twelfth year, in the twelfth month on the first day, the word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, take up a lament concerning Pharaoh king of Egypt and say to him:
“‘You are like a lion among the nations;
you are like a monster in the seas
thrashing about in your streams,
churning the water with your feet
and muddying the streams.
3 “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:
“‘With a great throng of people
I will cast my net over you,
and they will haul you up in my net.
4 I will throw you on the land
and hurl you on the open field.
I will let all the birds of the sky settle on you
and all the animals of the wild gorge themselves on you.
5 I will spread your flesh on the mountains
and fill the valleys with your remains.
6 I will drench the land with your flowing blood
all the way to the mountains,
and the ravines will be filled with your flesh.
7 When I snuff you out, I will cover the heavens
and darken their stars;
I will cover the sun with a cloud,
and the moon will not give its light.
8 All the shining lights in the heavens
I will darken over you;
I will bring darkness over your land,
declares the Sovereign Lord.
9 I will trouble the hearts of many peoples
when I bring about your destruction among the nations,
among lands you have not known.
10 I will cause many peoples to be appalled at you,
and their kings will shudder with horror because of you
when I brandish my sword before them.
On the day of your downfall
each of them will tremble
every moment for his life.
11 “‘For this is what the Sovereign Lord says:
“‘The sword of the king of Babylon
will come against you.
12 I will cause your hordes to fall
by the swords of mighty men—
the most ruthless of all nations.
They will shatter the pride of Egypt,
and all her hordes will be overthrown.
13 I will destroy all her cattle
from beside abundant waters
no longer to be stirred by the foot of man
or muddied by the hooves of cattle.
14 Then I will let her waters settle
and make her streams flow like oil,
declares the Sovereign Lord.
15 When I make Egypt desolate
and strip the land of everything in it,
when I strike down all who live there,
then they will know that I am the Lord.’
16 “This is the lament they will chant for her. The daughters of the nations will chant it; for Egypt and all her hordes they will chant it, declares the Sovereign Lord.”
Egypt’s Descent Into the Realm of the Dead
17 In the twelfth year, on the fifteenth day of the month, the word of the Lordcame to me: 18 “Son of man, wail for the hordes of Egypt and consign to the earth below both her and the daughters of mighty nations, along with those who go down to the pit. 19 Say to them, ‘Are you more favored than others? Go down and be laid among the uncircumcised.’ 20 They will fall among those killed by the sword. The sword is drawn; let her be dragged off with all her hordes. 21 From within the realm of the dead the mighty leaders will say of Egypt and her allies, ‘They have come down and they lie with the uncircumcised, with those killed by the sword.’
22 “Assyria is there with her whole army; she is surrounded by the graves of all her slain, all who have fallen by the sword. 23 Their graves are in the depths of the pit and her army lies around her grave. All who had spread terror in the land of the living are slain, fallen by the sword.
24 “Elam is there, with all her hordes around her grave. All of them are slain, fallen by the sword. All who had spread terror in the land of the living went down uncircumcised to the earth below. They bear their shame with those who go down to the pit. 25 A bed is made for her among the slain, with all her hordes around her grave. All of them are uncircumcised, killed by the sword. Because their terror had spread in the land of the living, they bear their shame with those who go down to the pit; they are laid among the slain.
26 “Meshek and Tubal are there, with all their hordes around their graves. All of them are uncircumcised, killed by the sword because they spread their terror in the land of the living. 27 But they do not lie with the fallen warriors of old, who went down to the realm of the dead with their weapons of war—their swords placed under their heads and their shields resting on their bones—though these warriors also had terrorized the land of the living.
28 “You too, Pharaoh, will be broken and will lie among the uncircumcised, with those killed by the sword.
29 “Edom is there, her kings and all her princes; despite their power, they are laid with those killed by the sword. They lie with the uncircumcised, with those who go down to the pit.
30 “All the princes of the north and all the Sidonians are there; they went down with the slain in disgrace despite the terror caused by their power. They lie uncircumcised with those killed by the sword and bear their shame with those who go down to the pit.
31 “Pharaoh—he and all his army—will see them and he will be consoled for all his hordes that were killed by the sword, declares the Sovereign Lord.32 Although I had him spread terror in the land of the living, Pharaoh and all his hordes will be laid among the uncircumcised, with those killed by the sword, declares the Sovereign Lord.”
Go Deeper
In Ezekiel 32, we read the sixth and seventh oracles concerning Egypt. What began in Ezekiel 29 is coming to a conclusion in this chapter. These final two oracles, which took place about two weeks apart, are both considered to be laments. Throughout much of Ezekiel, the pattern stays the same: there is an announcement of judgment and destruction coming, followed by a lament. Pastor David Platt describes these lamentations as “a deep, passionate expression of grief or sorrow”, which is exactly what we read here.
As we read these words, we see how charged the language is. It’s very clear that judgment is coming for Pharaoh. This first oracle is personal, directed at Pharaoh. A consistent theme throughout scripture is that leadership is important and leading others astray has dire consequences. Reading this passage, it is clear that Pharaoh consistently failed the Egyptian people by standing in direct opposition to God.
The second oracle is directed at Egypt as a whole. It’s a tough section to read, as the Egyptians are told that they are headed to sheol, or “the realm of the dead.” Because of their wickedness, they have ended up separated from God–and they’re not the only ones. In sheol, they are surrounded by many others: the Assyrians, Pharaoh and his armies…they’re all there among the dead. Some Old Testament scholars describe this passage as the most vivid description of sheol that we’re given in all of the Old Testament.
Reading this passage is heavy. Obviously, so much of the book of Ezekiel points to impending judgment. Egypt is not the first nation whose downfall is discussed, but it might be the most descriptive. As we read this passage, let it remind us of two things. First, let it serve as a reminder to us that every day there are people around us who are far from God and if they died today, they would end up separated from Him. Second, it can remind us that we have been given a Great Commission (Matthew 28) to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth and to make disciples in the name of Jesus. Ezekiel 32 can serve as an extra motivator today to make the most of every opportunity presented to us today.
Questions
- What does this passage teach you about God? What does it teach you about humanity?
- Of all of the oracles against Egypt we have read over the past few days, which one stuck out to you the most? Why?
- How often do you think about the people you know that could spend eternity separated from God? Take some time today to pray for those people and ask God to give you courage and opportunities to share the Good News with them.
Keep Digging
To learn more about sheol, check out this helpful article from GotQuestions.org!
2 thoughts on “Ezekiel 32”
I noticed the word “uncircumcised” repeated 7 times throughout this chapter as Ezekiel pronounces God’s judgement on the evil nations. Circumcision was an outward physical sign of the eternal covenant between God and his chosen people. Originating in the heart of God, it was a distinguishing characteristic among the Israelites and set them apart as a peculiar people belonging to God and who followed his ways. The evil nations are uncircumcised and seen as outcasts, wicked, profane, and unrepentant thus rejected by God. They died in their sinful condition. Deuteronomy 49:6 describes it this way, “And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.” God has always wanted more from His people than just external conformity to a set of rules. He has always wanted them to possess a heart to love, know, and follow Him. (Got Questions). As we read the fate of these evil nations, it’s time for a heart check. What is keeping us from loving God fully?
I read in one of the commentaries that what we are reading here is just a dress rehearsal for what is to come. It seems like we would learn but no. God’s timing is always on time. He knows what is going on in this world. He has plans, we just have to trust and have faith in His plan and timing. Be prepared 2 Tim 4:2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. We have to live our life minutely with/for God. 1. We first have to be in alignment with God individually. 2 Tim 2: 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 2. Love like God loves. 1 John 4:8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 3. He wants no one to perish. Mat 28:16-20 Preach the gospel to all nations and people.. Work miracles in Jesus’ name to testify to the gospel. Baptize new believers, and.
Disciple those who receive Christ. But do not forget 1. Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
God thank You for my walk with You minutely, daily. That I am putting You first and not listening to the world. Help me to continue to seek You in ALL things. Let the scales of pride fall from my eyes. I want to be so close to You and so far from the line of sin that I cannot see it. Thank you for instilling in me the Holy fear that I might not sin against You in Jesus name amen
WOOHOO!!!!