We Are Believers

Ezekiel 29:7 

"When they took hold of thee by thy hand, thou didst break,

and rend all their shoulder: and when they leaned upon

thee, thou brakest, and madest all

their loins to be at a stand."

     During the time of Ezekiel’s prophecy, Israel was about to be captured by the Babylonians. Israel had already become a ruling state to the emerging Babylonian empire and was obligated to pay taxes to the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar. Egypt was in a similar position. It had lost many territories to the Babylonians and the enemy showed no sign of letting up.

    Egypt and Israel shared a common enemy and that led them to form an alliance. However, when the Babylonians came to attack Israel, Egypt looked the other way. Egypt deserted Israel in her time of need. The prophet Ezekiel described it this way: "When they took hold of thee by thy hand, thou didst break, and rend all their shoulder: and when they leaned upon thee, thou brakest, and madest all their loins to be at a stand," (Ezekiel 29:7).

    Ezekiel came to scold the Jewish people for placing their trust exclusively in the Egyptians and not in God. At the same time, he lashed out at the Egyptians for deserting Israel and prophesied their decline. This was both a punishment for Egypt and a reminder for Israel: "And it shall be no more the confidence of the house of Israel, which bringeth their iniquity to remembrance, when they shall look after them: but they shall know that I am the Lord GOD,” (Ezekiel 29:16). Egypt’s weakened state served as a lasting reminder to the Jews that it was foolish to trust in lowly man; only God Almighty was deserving of their, and ours as well.

    Today, Israel continues to struggle between trusting alliances with countries and having faith in God. But a video posted during an Israeli offensive several years ago,  Operation Pillar of Defense  indicated that Israelis are finally learning. In it, soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces are dancing and singing as they waited at the entrance to Gaza. The words that they sang went as follows: "We are believers and the sons of believers, that there is no one on whom to rely, except for our Father – our Father in heaven!"

    My Friends, let us learn what some of Israel’s greatest soldiers already know. When it comes to the uncertainties in life, there is only one source of strength and one source of security: the Lord our God. Let us trust in Him and rejoice in our faith. For He will do miracles for us, just as He did in Egypt long ago. 
Amen!

Reading: (Ezek. 29:1-21)
Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry