Ezekiel 30 reminds me of an NFL training camp. Every summer 50 new young players are brought in to compete with the existing roster. Older veteran players have established reputations, accomplishments and statistics. They are also surrounded by people that survive off their position and income. Athletic arrogance prevents players from realizing when they are over the hill. A team with too many players living in the past can become content. This attitude is contagious as effort is reduced, drills are skipped and improvement stops. This kind of team is comfortable doing just enough to stay out of last place. Today’s chapter may be a warning that “cut day” is coming. Ezekiel continues speaking God’s judgment against Egypt, “Wail and say, ‘Alas for that day!’ For… the day of the Lord is near“. But He adds, “A sword will come against Egypt, and anguish will come upon Cush“. Cush was further south along the Nile River. Apparently Cush was fine with anything happening in Egypt, as long as they continued collecting a paycheck from trade with their rich neighbor. The Babylonians would come and cut off Egypt, “When the slain fall in Egypt, her wealth will be carried away“. When an NFL Pro-bowler is cut, it is big news because his agent and entourage are also cut off. God adds, “The allies of Egypt will fall and her proud strength will fail“. Are you a rookie, or a veteran player?
All rookies in training camp fear “the Turk”. That is the guy that delivers the bad news that a player is being released. Players know what it means when they are told, “Coach wants to see you. Bring your Playbook”. Some players work harder to prepare for next year while others never play again. “On that day messengers will go out from Me in ships to frighten Cush out of her complacency“.Have you been going through the motions, content to just make the team? Those on the sideline can only watch the game. Game Day is approaching, “the most ruthless of nations will be brought in to destroy the land“.
This prophesy was given to Team Egypt and includes a whole list of those being cut, “I will destroy the idols… in Memphis… set fire to Zoan… inflict punishment on Thebes… pour out My wrath on Pelusium“. In the NFL it is politely called a list of transactions, but to the players involved, it may mean the end of their football life, “Dark will be the day at Tahpanhes when I break the yoke of Egypt; there her proud strength will come to an end“. As the chapter closes, He makes it clear this is not a temporary setback, “I have broken the arm of Pharaoh… I will break both his arms… I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, but the arms of Pharaoh will fall limp“. Here is the key to understanding this chapter, it was given before Babylon attacked Jerusalem, yet the people of Israel were not shaken out of their complacency. They did not change and they did not prepare. Friend, Training Camp is open. Don’t just go through the motions. “Run in such a way as to get the prize.Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever” (1 Corinthians 9:25). Beware of the Turk!