In Ezekiel 31 and 32 we find judgment continuing to be pronounced over Pharaoh and over all Egypt. In this, we see a specific note regarding how this judgment was to be an example to the nations around them. The Lord says, “I will trouble the hearts of many peoples, when I bring your destruction among the nations, into the countries that you have not known. 10 I will make many peoples appalled at you, and the hair of their kings shall bristle with horror because of you, when I brandish my sword before them. They shall tremble every moment, every one for his own life, on the day of your downfall” (Ez. 32:9-10).
Egypt’s judgment was going to instill fear into others. Seeing the judgment of God come and the sword of the Lord brandished should cause many to turn in repentance to the Lord. Again and again in Ezekiel’s prophecy, God reminds us that after the coming judgment, “then they will know that I am the LORD” (Ez. 32:15). As we see the judgment passages in the Scripture, and so frequently in the prophets, it should remind us of the consequences of sin that are sure to come. Furthermore, it should remind us to be incredibly grateful to be spared from that just judgment of God by our Lord Jesus Christ.
So many stand under judgment and as the Scripture says, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:31). It’s not something to be taken lightly. It’s not something to be nonchalant about. The nonbeliever stands under His sure judgment, and as we think of how frightful this is we should celebrate the wonderful grace of God in our lives. We should thank God for His mercy that He lavished upon us in Christ and while we ought to still reverence the Lord as He is the holy, awesome, Creator God we no longer have to stand in terror of His judgment that we certainly deserved.
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