Bible Commentaries
Ezekiel 31

Verses 1-18

1. Intro:
   1. These last chapters of judgment deal with Egypt.
      1. And God sets aside 4 chapters w/4 illustrations for them!
      2. Israel would oft run to Egypt, instead of trusting in the Lord.
2. EGYPT! (Ch.29-32)
   1. LOCHNEST OF THE NILE! (Ch.29)
   2. The King of Egypt thought he was a great monster, guarding his royal river(Nile) (3)
      1. His name was Pharaoh Hophra (whom King Zedekiah of Israel pleaded to for help in Jer.37:7)
      2. God didn’t see him as a great monster but only a weak reed(6,7).
   3. This great monster is most likely a metaphor for the famous Nile crocodile.
      1. Which could be a Leviathon?
   4. God would capture the monster & show Pharaoh that HE owned the Nile River & could do with it what He pleased!
      1. God would use the Babylonians to do this, & Pharaoh would not be able to stop them.
   5. So once again it’s all about pride! (29:1-3; 31:10; 32:1,2)
   6. BROKEN ARMS! (Ch.30)
   7. God would break Pharaoh’s arms & not allow them to heal.
      1. But He would strengthen Neb’s arms, & give him victory over Egypt & her many allies.
   8. CUTTING DOWN THE GREAT TREE! (Ch.31)
   9. This message was for Pharaoh, who thought his nation was indestructible.
      1. Assyria once had the same idea, but look what God did to her.
      2. God would rebuke Pharaoh’s pride, cut down his nation, & cast it into hell(15,17).
   10. LION IN A NET! (Ch.32)
   11. Egypt was strong & active like a young lion, but the nation would be caught in God’s net & go down into the pit with all the other great nations of that era.
   12. Remember God is the King & rules over the nations as He pleases. What He does has one grand purpose; that the nations would know He is the Lord! (5 x’s)
       1. When nations & rulers start to think they are gods, God has to remind them that He alone is the God of all the earth & He won’t share His glory with another.
   13. Let’s talk about the lessons we can glean from Israel regarding Egypt.
   14. Application!
   15. Remember the day you came out of Egypt! Ex.13:3
       1. We can remember the day we got out of bondage.
          1. The feeling of: relief, release, respite, reprieve, liberation, freedom.
   16. The Long way home! Ex.13:17
       1. Has God laid out any long-cuts in your life?
       2. Here is why He doesn’t always give you the easiest or shortest ways!
   17. Right B4 10 Commandments! Ex.20:2
       1. God is into getting us all out of bondage & into freedom…but what kind of freedom?
       2. Paul tells us in Gal.5:13 – not a wild freedom, but a freedom to love.
          1. Not a loose liberty, but a liberating liberty to love!
   18. Loving Leeks! Numb 11:4-6
       1. Leeks, like onions, are mentioned only once in the entire bible.
          1. Then, only in association w/the fruits of Egypt as contrasted w/the heavenly manna.
       2. Leeks become symbolic of the works of the flesh & the old nature.
   19. When Moses delivered Israel, they went out of Egypt, but Egypt was not yet OUT of them!
       1. Egypt was still IN them, though they were no longer in Egypt.
   20. What a picture of our salvation!
       1. When we’re saved we don’t immediately lose our old nature, but instead we receive a new nature, which must ultimately overcome the old.
   21. Every believer has 2 natures: We received the 1^st via our natural birth from father Adam. And the new from our new birth by the Spirit of God.
       1. The flesh provides the tinder on which the devil’s temptations can kindle. J. O. Sanders; Enjoying Intimacy with God
   22. There will always be the struggle between the 2, this side of heaven.
       1. Gal.5:17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.
       2. That means we’ll constantly struggle between the appetite for leeks & learning to be feed on Manna.
   23. Paul gives us a long list of “leeks” in Gal19:21 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry & witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
   24. So what is the Manna for our soul?
       1. Paul says it in the next verse (But the fruit of the Spirit is) love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness & self-control.
   25. The nature that you feed is the nature which will be victorious.
       1. Live for God, die to the world!
   26. Why did we leave Egypt??? Numb 11:18-20
       1. Why did we leave? We liked it there didn’t we?
       2. 2^nd guessing your decision to follow Christ.
          1. The devils whisper: partying was fun. Wine, women, & a song.
       3. Oh, so now it makes sense & why it’s important to remember the bondage God brought you ought of personally!
          1. Because later the devil will use your forgetfulness to draw you back to Egypt.
       4. Your Egypt can be a “good thing” also!
          1. Story – of leaving CC Bellflower for Kel & I. We were out here where He placed us, had to get back where ministry was done “the right way”(way we were used to).
          2. It was going back to Egypt for us.
          3. God asked me what are you doing back here?