(REFLECTIONS ON EZEKIEL 31:1-18)

Assyria, the mighty nation, once a cedar in Lebanon, once the envy of all the trees of Eden in the garden of God, was brought down, and Egypt was on the same trajectory of destruction. The problem is, they didn’t learn from history, and that is why what happened to Assyria would repeat itself, this time to Egypt.

I remember when I was in college, that there were classmates of mine that didn’t particularly like history. They couldn’t understand the point in learning about something that happened so long ago, was ancient, and in their eyes, irrelevant. Let’s talk about the present and the future they would say, and not live in the past.

Although history is focused on the past, there is so much we can learn from the past that can help us as we focus on the present and the future. That is why the Old Testament is so essential to Christians, because through the prophets, and through the lives of God’s chosen people, the church can learn from the failures of the Israelites, and also understand why Jesus Christ is necessary for salvation, isn’t just one way, but is the way, the truth, and the life.

The Old Testament also helps us to see that God didn’t just create the world and improvise His way throughout history, but that His salvation was a plan from the beginning of creation, executed throughout history, and continues as a thread in our lives today.

Egypt wouldn’t consider what happened to Assyria, so it couldn’t foresee that they were on the same path. Yes, Assyria, symbolized as a cedar in Lebanon, was once the envy of all the trees of Eden in the garden of God, but it was their pride and arrogance that brought about their destruction. If Egypt understood history, they could see the Lord’s work, and perhaps could even recall their own history with what happened when Pharaoh tried to chase after Israel into the Red Sea.

May history be our guide, and may the history of the church and of the world, help us to understand how to avoid the mistakes of the past. May history be our guide, and may the hardened hearts of the Israelites and the surrounding nations, teach us to soften our hearts, and open up our hearts to the teaching and guidance of our Lord.

Pastor Michael Lu
Enduring Word Bible Commentary: Ezekiel 31