UNDERSTAND the ‘FATE’ of ‘UNGODLY’ people!
September 5 Bible Reading: Ezekiel Chapters
31-33
UNDERSTAND the ‘FATE’ of ‘UNGODLY’ people!
"To which of the trees in Eden will you
then be likened in glory and greatness? Yet you shall be brought down with the
trees of Eden to the depths of the earth; you shall lie in the midst of the
uncircumcised, with those slain by the sword. This is Pharaoh and all his
multitude, says the Lord God." (Ezek. 31:18)
The empire
of Assyria was extremely powerful, affluent and influential, like one of the
beautiful cedars of Lebanon (Ezek. 31:3). Yet just as God humbled the arrogant
Assyrians, He promised to humble the Egyptians, who were just as arrogant. Assyria
was the perfect example to show Egypt the effects of God’s judgment, and Assyria’s
fall was an object lesson to Egypt. If the strong “cedar” (Assyria) could fall, then how could any lesser “tree” (like Egypt) hope to remain
standing? The implication for Egypt was clear: like Assyria, God says, you
shall be brought down with the trees of Eden to the depth of the earth (v. 18).
We need to
understand here that Egypt never could match Assyria’s greatness, and Assyria
had been brought down by the Babylonians. What,
then, was the basis for Pharaoh’s pride? Like powerful Assyria, the weaker
Egypt also would be brought down (see vv. 2, 3, 5–9). The Assyrians enjoyed on
a gigantic scale Eden-like privileges which they abused through their pride and
sin. Just as in the case of the first man in Eden who ended in ruin, the same
fate was to be repeated in the case of Egypt. It was as if God was pointing His
finger at the previous Pharaoh buried in the depth of the Red Sea (Exodus 14:30,
31) and stating that this Pharaoh also will be delivered to the depths of the earth
(v. 18).
Our unchangeable God governs the
world on the same unchangeable principles! The trees in Eden refer to the nations, with the
outstanding one being Pharaoh and his people. As the other proud nations were
brought to hell, so also will Pharaoh. This message was for Pharaoh, who
thought his nation was indestructible. Assyria once had the same idea, but look
what God did to her. God would rebuke Pharaoh’s pride, cut down his nation, and
cast it into hell as well (vv. 15, 17).
From this
allegory, we can understand the fate
of ungodly people. The fall of proud ungodly
people is for warning to others, to keep them humble. It is best to be a lowly
tree of righteousness, yielding fruit to the glory of God, and to the good of
men. The wicked ungodly people are often seen flourishing like the cedar, and
spreading like the green bay tree, but they soon pass away, and their remains
are no more found. Let us therefore remain humble
and obedient to God, who will exalt
us in due time (1 Peter 5:6).
