A Warning For Egypt

Jeremiah 46:13–28
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)

Americans are getting warned to death. Manufactures are growing increasingly wary of being sued when their products are misused, so they are attaching warning labels to hundreds of items. For example, a Batman outfit bears this warning: “Parents, please exercise caution&mda … More

Warning

Jeremiah wrote this passage after he had gone into exile in Egypt. Here he describes the forthcoming invasion of Egypt by Nebuchadnezzar, which took place after Jeremiah’s death (vv. 13-14). In accordance with this prophesy, Nebuchadnezzar came down into Egypt and took over the land vv. 15-16). In the midst of this prophesy is another characterization of Egypt which is “Talks-Big-Does-Nothing (v. 17),” and calls the name of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, “’Noisy one who lets the hour go by” vv. 18-19). Isn’t that a strange name to give somebody? In other words, “the noisy one who likes to kill time”. That is the characterization of Egypt – and the world. It is one of the ways we can recognize the world: it loves noise, because it does not want to stop and think. And it loves to kill time, is always seeking ways to pass the time.

An enemy from the north will attack Egypt like a fly biting a cow (v. 20). Hired foreign soldiers will turn and run but they are doomed, like well fed calves being led to the butcher (v. 21). The enemy army will move forward likes a swarm of locusts and your troops will feel helpless, like a snake in the forest (v. 22). When men with axes start chopping down trees it can only hiss and try to escape (v. 23). You will be disgraced and captured by the enemy from the north (v. 24). The Lord says He is the “All-Powerful God of Israel and will punish the Egyptian gods, the Egyptian kings, the people of Egypt, and everyone who trusts in Egyptian power (v. 25). He will hand them over to King Nebuchadnezzar but promises He will someday have people living there again(v. 26). They are not to be afraid because one day they and their decedents will live there in peace and safety (vv. 27-28).

Application

Yes, this is a world that comes at us constantly, trying to get me to think only in terms of immediate pleasure and indulgence, and forgetting that it leads to slavery and bondage.

Jeremiah 46:13-28 (English Standard Version)

Warning: MagpieRSS: Failed to parse RSS file. (Space required at line 39, column 24) in /var/www/html/familytimes/includes/magpie6-1/rss_fetch.inc on line 230

Warning: array_slice() expects parameter 1 to be array, null given in /var/www/html/familytimes/includes/rss/esvLookup.php on line 15

View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway) »