Right at the beginning the Lord had told Jeremiah that He was appointing him as a prophet to the nations, we now get a series of prophecies directed specifically at the nations. Egypt is the first nation to be addressed, finishing with Babylon. Egypt and Babylon were the two nations that at various times threatened Judah.
Egypt had long sought to be a superpower in the region, but the defeat at Carchemish in 605BC put a decisive end to such pretensions.
Verses 3-5 are mocking. They mockingly call on the army to prepare proudly for battle, knowing that the army is actually in bedraggled defeated state.
Egypt had made claims to great power, to rise like the Nile and flood the region. But the Lord had determined that judgement would come upon Egypt, so they were destined to lose the battle of Carchemish and be defeated by Babylon.
At one stage in the battle Nebuchadnezzar had returned home because of his father's death. Egypt had a chance to take advantage of this, but failed to do so. Hence the "do-nothing" taunt in verse 17.
So Egypt would be defeated, and those who relied on Egypt would suffer along with her.
However, as with Israel, the defeat would not be permanent. Egypt would be inhabited again (v26). God has a plan for all the nations, and the salvation for all nations is found only in Christ.
The final two verses are a repeat of 30:10,11. In the midst of the mayhem and turmoil the Lord would remember Israel and rescue her. When we find ourselves in the midst of difficult circumstances we need to remember that the Lord is still looking after us.
No comments:
Post a Comment