**The Judgment Upon Egypt: A Prophecy of Desolation**
The word of the Lord came to Ezekiel the prophet in the land of exile, where the people of Israel sat by the rivers of Babylon, their hearts heavy with sorrow. The heavens were silent no longer, for the voice of the Almighty thundered forth, commanding Ezekiel to lift up his voice and proclaim a dire prophecy against Egypt, the ancient kingdom that had once been a refuge but had become a snare to God’s people.
### **The Day of the Lord’s Wrath**
*”Son of man, prophesy and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: Wail, “Alas for the day!” For the day is near, even the day of the Lord is near; a day of clouds, a time of doom for the nations.’”*
Ezekiel’s voice trembled as he spoke, his words carrying the weight of divine judgment. The Lord declared that a sword would be unsheathed against Egypt, and anguish would seize the land of Cush, her ally. The mighty warriors of Egypt would fall by the blade, and her proud cities would be laid waste. From Migdol to Syene, in the farthest reaches of the land, the hand of the Lord would stretch forth in fury.
### **The Desolation of Egypt’s Pride**
The Lord spoke of how He would dry up the Nile, the lifeblood of Egypt, turning its mighty waters into dust. The canals would stink with rot, the reeds would wither, and the fish would die in the stagnant pools. No longer would the river sustain the crops or quench the thirst of the land. The fishermen would mourn, for their nets would haul up nothing but emptiness.
The idols of Egypt, carved from stone and overlaid with gold, would be shattered. The temples of her gods—Amon of Thebes, Ra of Heliopolis, and Ptah of Memphis—would be defiled. The Lord would break the pride of Egypt’s rulers, and Pharaoh, who called himself a god, would tremble before the true King of Heaven.
### **The Sword of Babylon Unleashed**
*”Thus says the Lord: Those who support Egypt shall fall, and her proud strength shall come down. From Migdol to Syene they shall fall by the sword, declares the Lord God.”*
The Lord would bring Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, the rod of His anger, to strike Egypt with relentless fury. The Babylonian armies would march through the land like a storm, leaving desolation in their wake. The young men would perish in battle, the captives would be dragged away in chains, and the treasures of Egypt would be plundered. The once-great kingdom would become the lowest of nations, a byword among the kingdoms of the earth.
### **The Breaking of Egypt’s Arms**
The Lord declared that He would shatter the arms of Pharaoh—both the strong and the broken—so that the sword would fall from his grasp. The warriors of Egypt would lose their courage, fleeing before their enemies like frightened sheep. The Lord would scatter the Egyptians among the nations, dispersing them like chaff in the wind.
Yet, in His mercy, the Lord promised that after many years, He would gather a remnant of Egypt from their captivity. They would remember their frailty and know that He alone is God. But until that day, the land would lie in ruins, a testament to the justice of the Almighty.
### **The Certainty of Judgment**
As Ezekiel finished his prophecy, the exiles listened in stunned silence. The word of the Lord was sure—what He had spoken would come to pass. Egypt, the ancient oppressor, the land that had once enslaved Israel and later enticed her with false alliances, would drink the cup of divine wrath.
And so, the prophet bowed his head, knowing that the Lord is righteous in all His judgments. The nations may rise and fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.
