Humbly Reflecting on His Sovereignty
Scripture Passage: Jeremiah 46:1-12 (NASB)
1 That which came as the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the nations.
2 To Egypt, concerning the army of Pharaoh Neco king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates at Carchemish, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon defeated in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah:
3 “Set up the buckler and shield,
And advance to the battle!
4 Harness the horses,
And mount the steeds,
Take your stand with helmets on!
Polish the spears,
Put on the coats of armor!
5 Why have I seen it?
They are terrified,
They are retreating,
And their warriors are defeated
And have taken refuge in flight,
Without facing back.
Terror is on every side!”
Declares the Lord.
6 Let not the swift man flee,
Nor the warrior escape.
In the north beside the river Euphrates
They have stumbled and fallen.
7 Who is this that rises like the Nile,
Like the rivers whose waters surge?
8 Egypt rises like the Nile,
And like the rivers whose waters surge;
And He has said, “I will rise and cover that land;
I will destroy the city and its inhabitants.”
9 Go up, you horses, and drive wildly, you chariots,
So that the warriors may march forward:
Cush and Put, who handle the shield,
And the Lydians, who handle and bend the bow.
10 For that day belongs to the Lord God of armies,
A day of vengeance, so as to avenge Himself on His foes;
And the sword will devour and be satisfied,
And drink its fill of their blood;
For there will be a slaughter for the Lord God of armies,
In the land of the north at the river Euphrates.
11 Go up to Gilead and obtain balm,
Virgin daughter of Egypt!
You have used many remedies in vain;
There is no healing for you.
12 The nations have heard of your shame,
And the earth is full of your cry of distress;
For one warrior has stumbled over another,
And both of them have fallen down together.
SUMMARY
The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah concerning the nations. Pharaoh Neco was the king of Egypt and Nebuchadnezzar was the king of Babylon; and Babylon defeated Egypt in the fourth year of Jehoiakim as the king of Judah at Carchemish.
REFLECTION
This shameful defeat came at the great city of Carchemish, located in the upstream of the Euphrates River in 605 B.C. Historically, Egypt was a tremendous military powerhouse at this time boasting its best soldiers and war tactics with horses, chariots and armors. Egypt attempted to conquer the world, like the rising Nile River had flooded the land. Pharaoh’s arrogance and pride can be read about, “I will rise and cover that land; I will destroy the city and its inhabitants.” (verse 8). However, Egypt was utterly defeated by Babylon, and had to face irreversible defeat and shame.
It really didn’t matter whether Egypt, at that historical time, had the greatest military power or wealth. The outcome of the war was already declared by the Lord in previous chapters that we read and on verse 10 today. “For that day belongs to the Lord God of armies, a day of vengeance, so as to avenge Himself on His foes…”. While Pharaoh boasted in arrogance, believing in the nation’s mighty power, God humbled and punished his conceit.
APPLICATION
Today’s QT reminds once again about God’s sovereignty. No matter how much I try to build myself up with things of the world, those things will not withstand His mighty power. Horses, steeds, helmets, spears, armor, chariots and shields—things that Pharaoh relied on to win the war—are not the reasons why Egypt was able to rise to its power. It was because God let it be. How often we fall into the trap of thinking that we can build our strength like that? Who really has the control over everything and anything in this world?! That’s our God. Knowing this, I can now turn away from relying on my own ability and strength, but to humbly go before Him on all things. I will remember to reflect back on all my accomplishments and life blessings with humility that it wasn’t because of what I did, but it was because of what He did.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father,
You are God who seeks the contrite and humble heart. You hate arrogance and pride that make us believe in ourselves rather than relying on you and trusting you.
Lord, thank you for all the blessings you allowed in my life. I pray against any self seeking pride and conceit that can build up in my heart.
In Jesus’ name I prayed.
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