August 1, 2026 - Ezekiel 24-33

As with Isaiah and Jeremiah, the prophet Ezekiel now begins to address the nations surrounding Judah and Jerusalem:  Ammon, Moab and Seir, Edom, Philistia, Tyre, and Egypt.  Some interesting stuff here.  Yet another reminder that all nations and all peoples are accountable to the God of Israel.  The Lord seems to threaten particularly harsh judgment against Tyre and Egypt; at least, Ezekiel has much more to say about these nations than the others.  But, interestingly, though Egypt is the focus of terrible divine wrath and judgment, the Lord says:  “I will gather the Egyptians from the peoples among whom they were scattered, and I will restore the fortunes of Egypt and bring them back to the land of Pathros” (29:13,14).  And though they will be a lowly kingdom, in fact, the smallest of kingdoms, which will never again rule over other nations, yet the Lord’s grace shows through.  Even among the wicked nation, God works mercifully.

“As surely as I live,” God said,

“I would not see the sinner dead.

but that he turn from error’s ways,

repent, and live through endless days.”

And so our Lord gave this command:

“Go forth and preach in ev’ry land;

bestow on all my pard’ning grace

who will repent of sinful ways. --Nikolaus Herman (16th century)