Ezekiel ~ Lesson 14

Previous Lessons: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13

Read Ezekiel 29-32

Questions to Consider

1. Review your notes from last week’s lesson and be reminded of the things that lead into, and set the stage for, this week’s passage. From any previous knowledge of the Old Testament you may have, what were some of the connections between Israel and Egypt on various occasions? What was the relationship between these two nations like?

2. Read chapters 29-32. Write a 2-3 sentence summary of this passage. How is the general theme of last week’s passage the same as the general theme of this week’s passage?

3. Using a good Old Testament map, locate Egypt, the Nile River, and any of the other cities or geographical locations mentioned in this passage (if possible). Where were these located in relation to Israel? Recall from lesson 10 (link above) what God said about Israel’s reputation in the eyes of the pagan nations surrounding them.

If you’re not familiar with ancient Egyptian life, religion, and culture, give this brief article a read. (Note- this is not a Christian site. On a totally unrelated note- if you homeschool, you may find this to be a helpful teaching site.)

3. Break this passage down into the sins Egypt committed and the God’s judgment for those sins:

Sin (29:6b-7)-
Judgment (29:8-9a)-

Sin (29:9b)-
Judgment (29:10-16)-

Sin (30:13a)-
Judgment (30:13b-19- The places listed in this passage are cities in Egypt.)-

Sin (32:2)-
Judgment (32:3-15)-

4. Compare what you know of the splendor, power, and influence of Egypt before God’s judgment in 29:13-16 to Egypt’s status after 29:13-16, even to what you know about Egypt’s status today. Has God kept the promise He made in that passage? Considering Egypt’s power and influence over much of the known world in ancient times, what is the significance of God’s judgment on Egypt’s allies in 30:5-9?

5. 29:17-20: What is God referring to here about Tyre? Refresh your memory by reviewing lesson 13 (link above). Whom did God use to carry out His judgment on Egypt? Why? (also 30:10-12, 20-26)

6. (The key to understanding chapter 31 is to understand who God is talking to, to whom He is comparing them, and what similarities between the two are causing God to make the comparison.) Who is God talking to? (31:2,18d) To whom is God comparing Egypt? (31:3a) What similarities between Assyria’s (31:3-10) and Egypt’s power and their influence on Israel would cause God to compare them and their fate to one another?

7. In chapter 32, what does “uncircumcised” signify about all of these people groups? What do “to the world below, to those who have gone down to the pit” (32:18) and “Sheol” (32:21) indicate about the fate of Egypt, Assyria, and all the other peoples mentioned in 32:20-32?

8. How do these chapters point us toward the following concepts:

God punishes sin.
The uncircumcised of heart will spend eternity experiencing God’s wrath and judgment.
Might does not make right when it comes to our relationship with God.
The bigger they are, the harder they fall. / Pride goeth before a fall.
Sinners must humble themselves, repent, and throw themselves on the mercy of God for salvation.

9. What can we learn from Egypt about the sins of pride, idolatry, and sitting in the seat of God (29:3b,9b) in our own lives? What are the opposites of these sins – the things we should be doing instead?

10. In what way(s) does this passage point us to Christ?

Homework

• Add 29:6,9,16,21, 30:8,19,25,26, and 32:15 to your “And you/they shall know that I am the Lord” list. Write down who will know that He is the Lord, what will cause them to know He is the Lord, and why God wants them to know He is the Lord.