Egypt Cut Down Like a Great Tree

Spurgeon said “The demon of pride was born with us; and it will not die one hour before us. It is so woven into the very warp and woof of our nature, that, till we are wrapped in our winding-sheets, we shall never hear the last of it.” (Lou Nicholes - Missionary/A … More

Pride

The Lord challenged Pharaoh and his armies to learn a lesson from history. Assyria, the mightiest empire in the Near East from 745-626 B.C., had once been like a mighty cedar of Lebanon. It was well nourished and grew tall. Birds lodged in its branches, and animals sought shelter under its shade. Not even the trees of the garden of Eden could rival its majesty and beauty. However, because of its pride, God delivered it over to a ruthless nation (the Babylonians) who chopped it down. No other trees would ever grow so tall. Pharaoh also was like a great tree, but, like Assyria, he and his armies would come crashing to the earth.

At the apex of her power Assyria dominated the Middle East, towering like a cedar higher than all the trees of the field (vv. 1-9). Thus situated, Assyria grew like a cedar nourished by waters. Birds in the cedar’s branches and animals under its shade (vv. 6, 12, 17) speak of Assyria, like a tall tree, overshadowing and protecting all her neighbors. This “tree” was unmatched by any of God’s other “trees.” She was the perfect example to show Egypt the effects of God’s judgment.

Assyria fell because of her pride (vv. 10-14). God judged the nation because, like a cedar, it towered on high, lifting its top above the thick foliage, and because it was proud of its height. Having mentioned death (v. 14), Ezekiel expanded and applied that fact by focusing on the reaction of other nations to Assyria’s fall (vv. 15-18). While the nations were alarmed, those that had already been destroyed were comforted in the earth below (in the grave). The lesser nations, their allies who had lived in Assyria’s shade (vv. 6, 12) and were now in the grave, could comfort themselves that even Assyria had descended to where they were. Egypt, who was similar to Assyria, would suffer the same fate. She too would be brought down with the trees of Eden to the earth below.

Application

Just like Assyria, Egypt took pride in its strength and beauty and crashed like a mighty tree. I know that apart from God’s provision and grace the same thing can happen in my life.

Ezekiel 31:1-18 (English Standard Version)


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