Questions for thought:

1. When we read of the punishments Israel received for her continued sins, what should be the effect on us?

2. When a person is blessed by God with an abundance, should that person glory in herself and act as if her blessings are due to her own works? Why or why not?

3. Several times in this section, God made it clear He is Lord. How do we make it clear in our lives He is our Lord?

Beginning in Ezekiel 23 we have more parables for Ezekiel to share with the people. Then in chapters 25-32 we find judgments, laments, and destructions upon the many nations who persisted in evil.

In a parable, Israel and Judah are compared to two sisters in chapter 23 of Ezekiel. These two sisters, Aholah the elder and Aholibah the younger represented Samaria and Jerusalem. They belonged to the Lord but they played the harlot and committed harlotry with the nations around them. Verses 5-10 describe the behavior of the elder sister representing Samaria. Then verses 11-35 describe the behaviors of the younger sister representing Jerusalem. While Jerusalem had seen the punishments received by Samaria, it did not stop her from continuing in her sins and even becoming more sinful than Samaria. God likened the sins of the two divisions of Israel to sexual sins whores would commit and in the rest of the chapter, He again promised to repay them for their many sins.

In today’s world it is not uncommon for people who have seen in others the results of drug addictions, alcohol use, and other sins to continue in those sins themselves. They seem to never realize what their end can be. They are very much like the two sisters in the parable. When one sees the disastrous consequences of sin in others, it should cause the person to cease such a sinful way of life. When we read in the Bible what happened to God’s chosen people, Israel, because of their continued sins, it should cause us to change our behavior.

Another parable is recorded in chapter 24 where Ezekiel was to tell the people about a boiling pot. He was to tell them to take a pot of water and put the choice pieces of meat into it and bring it to boil. They were to cook the meat but in verse 6 the meat is found to be contaminated. It was so bad that it had even contaminated the pot it was cooking in. The pot had to be heated to an extremely high heat to burn out the filthiness and scum (verse 11). God’s people represented by the meat were of such a low nature having given themselves totally to sin, God would no longer even try to clean them (verses 13-14). Instead, He was going to judge them.

In the middle of chapter 24 is another sign for the people but it is bad news for Ezekiel. His wife was going to die and he was not allowed to mourn for her. The purpose was so Ezekiel could show the people what was coming to them. In verse 21 God told him to tell the people how the temple was going to be profaned and they were not to mourn or weep just as Ezekiel did not mourn or weep when his wife died. God said in verse 24 when it happens the people will know I am the Lord God.

Bible historians tell us this chapter is the end of prophecies against Jerusalem. Three years later Ezekiel learned that Jerusalem had fallen. Chapter 25-32 are prophecies against the nations around Israel. There are prophecies against Ammonites, Moabites, Edomites, and Philistines in chapter 25. Most of the prophecies against these people are due to how they have treated Judah.

Tyre or Tyrus is the subject of chapters 26 through 28. In chapter 26, God said because of Tyre’s rejoicing over the fall of Jerusalem, she too would fall. Chapter 27 begins with a description of Tyre and her many riches. In the middle of the chapter is an account of how Tyre and other areas engaged in commerce. Then at the end of chapter 27 beginning in verse 26 we find the coming destruction. In chapter 28 Ezekiel was told to tell the prince of Tyre the reason for the coming destruction was because of how he had set himself up as a god and had committed many evils against God’s people. In his pride he had made himself more important than God. God was the one who had given him what power he had, but he did not recognize God as Lord and instead made himself most important.

Many today follow after the example of the prince of Tyre. We see those leaders who instead of giving God glory for the state of their nation, take the glory for themselves. It is not only leaders who do this, but the common people who have made a name for themselves so often set themselves up as all powerful and fail to realize their blessings are from God. Remember what happened to the rich farmer in Luke 12:16-21. When his land had produced an abundance, he failed to give God credit and made a plan to store his surplus and then take his ease. In verse 20 God called him a fool and said his soul would be required of him that night. In verse 21 we have a warning against laying up treasures for self and not being rich toward God. At the end of chapter 28 Ezekiel had a word against Sidon also along with a promise that God would once more gather the house of Israel and allow them to dwell in their land.

Egypt is the topic of chapters 29-32. In chapter 29 Ezekiel was to prophesy against Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and tell him God was against him. He was referred to as a great dragon in the midst of the river who claimed the river for himself. God promised when He was finished with them, they would know “I am the Lord” (verses 6, 16). God said He would give the land to Nebuchadrezzar, king of Babylon because of how he had worked for God most likely in fighting against Tyre.

The prophecy continues in chapter 30 where God described more in detail what would occur in Egypt. He said the sword would come upon Egypt. Those who upheld Egypt would also fall (verse 6). He said He would make the rivers dry and sell the land into the hand of the wicked (verse 12). The idols would be destroyed and the images would be no more (verse 13). Notice beginning in verse 20, God told Ezekiel He had broken the arm of Pharaoh but in the following verses we see that was not the end of the planned punishments. In verse 26 God promised to scatter the Egyptians and they too would know “I am the Lord.”

Ezekiel was told by God in chapter 31 to speak to Pharaoh and compare him to Assyria which is called a cedar. Just as Assyria had been great but had been taken down by God, so too would Egypt be cut down. As pride was condemned in other nations so it was condemned in Egypt. Then in chapter 32 is a lament for Pharaoh. He was to be consumed by the Lord. People would be amazed at how he had fallen (verse 10). Again, in verse 15 God said once this was done, they would know “I am the Lord.” The chapter ends with the continued promises of God concerning the destruction of Egypt.

Several times in this section we have read God’s statement “I am the Lord.” If Israel would have only acknowledged that fact and lived for God, they would not have met such destruction. We too must acknowledge in our lives God is Lord. We do this by obeying His commands. Jesus asked His followers in Luke 6:46 why they called Him Lord but did not do what He said. Then in Matthew 7:21 He said not everyone who calls Him Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven but those who do God’s will.

Next time we will pick up with chapter 33 concerning Ezekiel’s appointment as a watchman.