Therefore thus says the Lord, God behold, I will give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he shall carry off its wealth and to spoil it and plunder it. And that shall be the wages for his army.
– Ezekiel 29:19
There’s a lot we could talk about here when it comes to all that God is doing in Ezekiel’s day. Not only am among God’s people in Jerusalem, and as people are taken into exile, but specifically here in Ezekiel 29:19, what God will do in Egypt. God says I’m going to give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. He’s going to carry off its wealth to spoil it, plunder it because I give it to him. And the big picture takeaway from Ezekiel 29:19. And we see this all over the Bible is that God is Lord over all the nations. Everything happening among all the nations of the world is ultimately under the umbrella of the sovereignty of God.
The Bible teaches, he holds rulers and nations in the palm of his hand. He is directing ultimately all things. Now there’s a lot of questions that start to come in here because we don’t understand why this or that is happening in the world. And most all of what is happening in the world is a picture of sinful depravity, of people, disobeying God and rebelling against God’s ways and people giving over to their sin.
Ezekiel 29:19 Reminds Us that God Controls Everything
But the picture is even all of that is ultimately under the umbrella of God’s sovereignty. In other words, God is in control over it all. And he is bringing all of it to a particular purpose. And praise God he has given us his word that tells us what that purpose is. Certainly here in Ezekiel, God, providing the prophet Ezekiel to say to his people, trust God in the middle of this.
The Lord is Ultimately in Control
Even when you don’t understand what’s happening to you at the hands of Babylon, what’s happening to Egypt at the hands of Babylon. Here’s what I am doing in the big picture. And the same is true in our lives. We don’t always understand what’s happening in our lives. What’s going on around each of us in the world, but isn’t it good to know that God is in control, that things are not ultimately out of control and that he is accomplishing good purposes and we can trust him in the middle of it.
What encouragement for each of our lives and where we live and what’s going on right around us and what encouragement when we open up the news and we see what’s happening around the world to know that God is in control. God, we praise you for your sovereignty over all things, over everything. Over every headline we see in the news that every single detail in our lives today, you are sovereign and you are trustworthy.
Ezekiel 29:19 Reminds Us that God is Sovereign
You are sovereignly working all things together for the good of those who love you and have been called according to your purpose. And your purpose will be accomplished. It will not be thwarted. Your kingdom will rule and reign in the end, your justice and your mercy will rule and reign. We long for the day when we will see your face, Lord Jesus. And we will be with you God, forever and ever with a multitude that no one can count from every nation, tribe, tongue and people.
Praying for the Kumhar People of Pakistan
So bring it about God, bring the Kumhar people of Pakistan, 4 million of them who don’t have access to the good news of your grace in Jesus right now. God re pray that the Kumhar people would be reached with the gospel. Send Laborers, open their eyes to hear and receive and believe we pray for the Kumhar of Pakistan, for all the nations of the world, bring them to know your grace and your love and help each one of us to play our parts in your sovereign plan to see disciples made among every nation.
Oh God. As we look around us in our lives and the world, we say, we trust in you alone. We praise you for your sovereignty over all things. And we place all of our trust in you. Lead us, guide us, direct us in the middle of what we’re walking through, right around us in light of your big picture purposes in the world.
However you will for your glory and we trust it will all in the end be good for those who love you and have been called according to your purpose in Jesus name, we pray according to Ezekiel 29:19. Amen.
David Platt serves as a pastor in metro Washington, D.C. He is the founder of Radical.
David received his Ph.D. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and is the author of Don’t Hold Back, Radical, Follow Me, Counter Culture, Something Needs to Change, Before You Vote, as well as the multiple volumes of the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary series.
Along with his wife and children, he lives in the Washington, D.C. metro area.
