Ezekiel 32 reminds me of the philosophy
summarized in a hit song lyric, “I’d rather laugh with the
sinners than cry with the saints. The sinners are much more fun”.
People joke about the party continuing in hell, because that is where
all the real fun people will be. I’m sure some want to believe it
will be like an eternal beer commercial with Satan playing DJ. The
advertisers do not show the arguments, car accidents, hangovers, or
the pain of separation afterwards. Today’s chapter looks at life
and death and eternity in the light of morning. These words are
lyrics to a funeral song. Ezekiel is instructed to “take
up a lament concerning Pharaoh king of Egypt“.
Please understand that God’s judgment is perfect, however, He
takes no joy in pronouncing guilt. Ezekiel says Egypt is “like
a lion among the nations“.
All the actors in the ads have white smiles and muscular builds, but
he continues, “you are
like a monster… thrashing
about… churning
the water with your feet and muddying the streams“.
We have seen this guy at the end of the night stumbling around. “I
will cast My net over you, and they will haul you up… I will throw
you on the land“. This is not
a first offense, but the end of a lifestyle of abuse. Every bridge
has been burned, every relationship has been harmed and no one is
willing to help any longer. “I
will let… all the animals of the wild gorge themselves on you“.
The end is horrific, “I will
drench the land with your flowing blood“.
When
a celebrity passes, we may be sad, but when someone close to us dies
tragically, we should be deeply impacted. It should cause us to
reflect and maybe reevaluate. God uses Egypt to get the attention of
those close by, “When I snuff
you out… I will bring darkness over your land… I will trouble the
hearts of many peoples… each of them will tremble every moment for
his life“. Some people today
wonder why God does not just smite all the bad people. 2 Peter 3:9
makes it clear, “The Lord is
not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness.
Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but
everyone to come to repentance“.
The
rest of the chapter focuses on two key points to ponder, what will
they leave behind for the living; and what awaits them after death.
Ezekiel says, the sword of the Babylonians will come against you,
“They will shatter the pride of
Egypt“. Then, the “waters
no longer to be stirred by the foot of man or muddied by the hooves
of cattle… When I make Egypt desolate and strip the land of
everything… then they will know that I am the Lord“.
The “fun uncle” is sometimes the one that leaves his family with
nothing. But what about the afterlife? Personally I believe the
horror will hit the instant they experience total separation from
God. Gods says, “Son of man,
wail for the hordes of Egypt…
along with those who go down to
the pit“. This is bitter deep
sobbing over the loss. The rest of the chapter names those there,
“because they spread their
terror in the land of the living“.
With each revelation there is no smile and wave, there is holy
terror and indescribable fear. Here is a hint, sometimes advertisers
lie. The Bible says, “God our
Savior, who
wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
For
there is one God and one Mediator between God and mankind, the Man
Christ Jesus, who
gave Himself as a ransom for all people”
(1 Timothy 2:3-6). Are you certain what the morning will bring for
you?