Read Ezekiel 29:1 through 32:32
Swelled with pride. A legend in his own mind. Too big for his britches. All these phrases describe Pharaoh Hophra, who had allowed his personal successes to go to his head (Ezekiel 29:3). Along the way, the pharaoh had mistakenly decided that he was the reason for his own success, that he was the reason he had accumulated great wealth. And the Egyptians had begun to believe the same thing and follow him. The Egyptians revered him as a god, and as the one who could provide their security.
Then God decided that the proud leader and his followers needed a dose of humility, and he told Ezekiel to deliver the message in today’s reading.
Pharaoh and the Egyptians’ failure is obvious: They failed to recognize that God was the provider of everything they owned. They failed to recognize God as the true owner of their possessions, and then use them to display God’s lordship.
All that we have is a gift from God, given to us for the purpose of furthering His kingdom. The misguided Egyptians learned the painful way that God is Lord of all.
Challenge for Today: List your five favorite possessions. Now determine how you will use each of those possessions to let others know that God is Lord.
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