Breaking arms - Lent 30

As a family we know all about 'breaking arms'. Not only have my kids managed to do this quite successfully, but as I child I also succeeded in doing the same thing. So you can imagine how intrigued I was when Ezekiel's vision spoke about Pharaoh's broken arms. Take a read of chapter 30:

²¹ “Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. His arm has not been put in a cast so that it may heal. Neither has it been bound up with a splint to make it strong enough to hold a sword. ²² Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am the enemy of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt! I will break both of his arms—the good arm along with the broken one—and I will make his sword clatter to the ground.

At first glance it doesn't seem as if God is fighting fair, but then we must remember that it is "picture" of what will happen in the future. Ezekiel uses these word images to show the extent of God's judgement. Pharaoh will be rendered helpless in the face of the Babylonians and their rule (the Egyptians) over the Israelites will come to an end. God will allow a common enemy to administer punishment upon the Egyptians.

Thought: God can use all people and situations to make sure that his plan is accomplished. He even made use of Judas, Pilate and few Religious groups to bring about his ultimate plan of Salvation.  
What are you thoughts on this?

Living in Grace
D3LM3

A great monster and a flimpsy staff - Ezekiel 29

 

Ezekiel's message for Egypt is also one of rebuke (no surprises there). Just like his peers, Pharaoh had allowed his success to go to his head and he claimed the Nile River for himself and Egypt. His arrogance and unwillingness to give God any glory, displeased Yahweh and so Pharaoh is referred to as a 'great monster.' This image of the monster reminds me a little of a crocodile and one can imagine the beast swimming under the murky water looking for prey.

"...you great monster, lurking in the streams of the Nile.
For you have said, ‘The Nile River is mine;
    I made it for myself."(v.3)

However, the next vision that Ezekiel shares (Ezekiel 29), also concerning Egypt, is totally different to one of the monster. It is of a staff (think of a walking stick) made of reeds.


All the people of Egypt will know that I am the Lord,
    for to Israel you were just a staff made of reeds.
⁷ When Israel leaned on you,
    you splintered and broke
    and stabbed her in the armpit.
When she put her weight on you,
    you collapsed, and her legs gave way.

I am challenged by these words as it shows me that I need to wary of leaning to heavily on others, and not so much on God. God can bear the brunt of all my troubles, concerns, failures, sins and fears. When we lean on Him, God will not break and collapse.

Lent Reflection: In giving up something during Lent we remind ourselves that we don't need to depend on these things. God is sufficient for our every need. 


Living in Grace
D3LM3