Objective:
Lesson 9 “Lights Out for Egypt”
To show you that when God, through the prophet Ezekiel, predicted the defeat of the Egyptians by the Babylonians, He used familiar imagery to say that it was going to be “lights out for Egypt”.
To show you that Egypt’s “day of the Lord” happened long ago… there have been “days of the Lord” for many societies.
- Much like Edom in the previous lesson, God directs many harsh words at Egypt… so many that I cannot ask you to read all of them. I’ll give an overview and then ask you to read Ezek. 32:1-15. In that passage you will again see vivid poetic language and in particular, the same “lights out” imagery that we saw in the prophecies against Edom and that we will see in Jesus’ Olivet discourse.
- Scripture contains many prophecies concerning the future of Egypt and its cities; prophecies that have been spectacularly fulfilled in history. For example:
- Egypt was enormously wealthy when the prophet said that it was to become: “the basest of nations” (Ezek. 29:15). Today it is third world “have not” country.
- When the prophets wrote, the day of the Lord for Egypt was “near” (Ezek. 30:3) It happened when Nebuchadnezzar, of Babylon defeated the Egyptians at the battle of Carchemish (Ezek. 30:10 and Jer. 46:2).
- Egypt, land of the pharaohs, was to lose its royal family (Ezek. 30:13). This has happened; for 2,300 years Egypt was ruled by foreigners, the language and culture of ancient Egypt has disappeared and today it is a quasi-democracy. For all off this time, Egypt has not been ruled by a royal family.
- Memphis (Noph) ancient capital of lower Egypt was to be “waste and desolate, without inhabitant” (Jer. 46:19). And all of its idols were to be destroyed. (Ezek. 30:13). This is what has happened… the site of ancient Noph is not worth a visit, there is nothing to see.
- Thebes (No) ancient capital of all Egypt, was to be emptied (Ezek. 30:15); but Scripture does not say that the idols at Thebes would be destroyed. Today the site is a prime tourist attraction.
Lesson 9 “Lights Out for Egypt”
Objective:
To show you that when God, through the prophet Ezekiel, predicted the defeat of the Egyptians by the Babylonians, He used familiar imagery to say that it was going to be “lights out for Egypt”.
To show you that Egypt’s “day of the Lord” happened long ago… there have been “days of the Lord” for many societies.
- Much like Edom in the previous lesson, God directs many harsh words at Egypt… so many that I cannot ask you to read all of them. I’ll give an overview and then ask you to read Ezek. 32:1-15. In that passage you will again see vivid poetic language and in particular, the same “lights out” imagery that we saw in the prophecies against Edom and that we will see in Jesus’ Olivet discourse.
- Scripture contains many prophecies concerning the future of Egypt and its cities; prophecies that have been spectacularly fulfilled in history. For example:
- Egypt was enormously wealthy when the prophet said that it was to become: “the basest of nations” (Ezek. 29:15). Today it is third world “have not” country.
- When the prophets wrote, the day of the Lord for Egypt was “near” (Ezek. 30:3) It happened when Nebuchadnezzar, of Babylon defeated the Egyptians at the battle of Carchemish (Ezek. 30:10 and Jer. 46:2).
- Egypt, land of the pharaohs, was to lose its royal family (Ezek. 30:13). This has happened; for 2,300 years Egypt was ruled by foreigners, the language and culture of ancient Egypt has disappeared and today it is a quasi-democracy. For all off this time, Egypt has not been ruled by a royal family.
- Memphis (Noph) ancient capital of lower Egypt was to be “waste and desolate, without inhabitant” (Jer. 46:19). And all of its idols were to be destroyed. (Ezek. 30:13). This is what has happened… the site of ancient Noph is not worth a visit, there is nothing to see.
- Thebes (No) ancient capital of all Egypt, was to be emptied (Ezek. 30:15); but Scripture does not say that the idols at Thebes would be destroyed. Today the site is a prime tourist attraction.
- The fulfillment of these prophesies in history and their continuing fulfillment today, is strong evidence that God inspired the words of the prophets. It also shows that God is sovereign over all of His creation. But that is not the reason that I remind you of these things. I want you to know that Egypt’s day of the Lord happened long ago. It is important that you know that these prophecies have been fulfilled. Now, I ask you to look at one of those prophecies more carefully because in this one we see more poetic language, especially the “lights out” imagery that we are focusing on in this lesson.
- Please read Ezek. 32:1-15. This is another prophesy concerning the defeat of the Egyptians by the Babylonians (vs. 11). Please notice the poetic language:
- God will catch Pharaoh in a net (vs. 3).
- “All of the fowl of the air will rest on him” (vs. 4).
- God “will fill all of the beasts of the whole earth with thee” (vs. 4).
- God “will fill the ravines with your flesh” (vs. 6)
- After this obvious exaggeration (poetic language) God says: “I will darken the stars, I will cover the sun with a cloud, the moon will not give its light. The shining lights of heaven I will darken over you. I will bring darkness over your land.” (vs. 7,8).
- Dear reader, do you see it? Babylon is a deserted ruin, it defeated the Egyptians as predicted and then it disappeared from history. So all of these words about the sun, moon and stars going dark are just a poetic way of saying that it was going to be “lights out for Egypt”.
- The fulfillment of these prophesies in history and their continuing fulfillment today, is strong evidence that God inspired the words of the prophets. It also shows that God is sovereign over all of His creation. But that is not the reason that I remind you of these things. I want you to know that Egypt’s day of the Lord happened long ago. It is important that you know that these prophecies have been fulfilled. Now, I ask you to look at one of those prophecies more carefully because in this one we see more poetic language, especially the “lights out” imagery that we are focusing on in this lesson.
- Please read Ezek. 32:1-15. This is another prophesy concerning the defeat of the Egyptians by the Babylonians (vs. 11). Please notice the poetic language:
- God will catch Pharaoh in a net (vs. 3).
- “All of the fowl of the air will rest on him” (vs. 4).
- God “will fill all of the beasts of the whole earth with thee” (vs. 4).
- God “will fill the ravines with your flesh” (vs. 6)
- After this obvious exaggeration (poetic language) God says: “I will darken the stars, I will cover the sun with a cloud, the moon will not give its light. The shining lights of heaven I will darken over you. I will bring darkness over your land.” (vs. 7,8).
- Dear reader, do you see it? Babylon is a deserted ruin, it defeated the Egyptians as predicted and then it disappeared from history. So all of these words about the sun, moon and stars going dark are just a poetic way of saying that it was going to be “lights out for Egypt”.