In the Bible, Egypt often symbolizes sin, idolatry, and oppression, representing a place of bondage and spiritual alienation from God. Conversely, it can also signify refuge and redemption, as seen in the story of Joseph and the Holy Family’s flight to Egypt.
Scripture
10 Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was severe in the land.
11 When he was about to enter Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, “I know that you are a woman beautiful in appearance,
12 When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me, but they will let you live.
13 Say you are my sister, that it may go well with me because of you, and that my life may be spared for your sake.”
14 When Abram entered Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful.
15 And when the princes of Pharaoh saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh. And the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house.
16 And for her sake he dealt well with Abram; and he had sheep, oxen, male donkeys, male servants, female servants, female donkeys, and camels.
17 But the Lord afflicted Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife.
18 So Pharaoh called Abram and said, “What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife?
19 Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her for my wife? Now then, here is your wife; take her, and go.”
20 And Pharaoh gave men orders concerning him, and they sent him away with his wife and all that he had.
Symbolism of Egypt in the Bible
In the Bible, Egypt serves as a potent symbol that encapsulates both the themes of oppression and the possibility of redemption. On one hand, Egypt is frequently depicted as a representation of sin and idolatry, a land steeped in pagan worship and practices that stand in stark contrast to the monotheism of the Israelites. For instance, in Exodus 20:2-3, God commands the Israelites, “I am the LORD your God… You shall have no other gods before me,” emphasizing the dangers of idolatry that are prevalent in Egyptian society. This notion of Egypt as a place of bondage is further highlighted in Exodus 1:13-14, where the Israelites are subjected to harsh treatment and forced labor under the oppressive rule of Pharaoh, illustrating the spiritual alienation and suffering that sin can bring.
Conversely, Egypt also represents a nuanced aspect of refuge and divine providence. The story of Joseph is a prime example, where, despite being sold into slavery in Egypt, he rises to prominence and ultimately provides for his family during a famine (Genesis 41). This narrative showcases God’s sovereignty and ability to transform a seemingly negative situation into one of salvation and provision. Additionally, in the New Testament, the Holy Family’s flight to Egypt to escape King Herod’s decree signifies Egypt’s role as a protective haven, as seen in Matthew 2:13-15. Here, Egypt becomes a temporary sanctuary, underscoring the complexity of this symbol; it serves as both a land of exile and a sanctuary, ultimately illustrating God’s redemptive plan, even in places that seem far from His presence. This duality invites readers to reflect on their own lives, recognizing that God can use both trials and refuges to bring about spiritual growth and deliverance.
The symbolism of Egypt in the Bible extends beyond mere associations with oppression and refuge; it also embodies themes of cultural contrast and moral ambiguity. Throughout biblical narratives, Egypt is depicted as a place of sophistication and wealth, often representing the allure of worldly pleasures and success that can lead individuals away from faithfulness to God. For example, in Isaiah 30, the people of Israel are warned against seeking alliances with Egypt for military assistance, highlighting the precarious nature of relying on foreign powers instead of trusting in God’s strength and providence. This inclination towards Egypt serves as a reminder of the temptation to prioritize human security over divine guidance, which can become a source of spiritual compromise and distraction.
Moreover, Egypt’s representation evolves throughout scripture to include the idea of testing and judgment. In the prophetic literature, Egypt frequently appears as a symbol of nations that will face divine retribution for their unfaithfulness and idolatry. The prophetic texts, such as those found in Jeremiah and Ezekiel, illustrate the impending judgment upon Egypt as a cautionary tale for Israel and other nations. The periodic references to Egypt’s fall signify God’s sovereignty over all nations and serve as an encouragement to His people to remain steadfast in their covenant relationship. These layers of symbolism reinforce the complex relationship between Israel and Egypt, revealing that God can use such contrasting realities to convey lessons on faith, dependence, and the ultimate restoration of His people through testing and challenges—a reminder that spiritual clarity often arises from navigating internal and external struggles.
Egypt as a Symbol of Oppression and Bondage
In the biblical narrative, Egypt often represents a place of oppression and bondage. The Israelites’ enslavement in Egypt serves as a powerful metaphor for the struggles against tyranny and the longing for freedom. This symbolism extends beyond the historical context, reflecting the broader human experience of suffering under oppressive regimes and the desire for liberation. Egypt, therefore, becomes a representation of the trials and tribulations that individuals and communities face in their quest for justice and deliverance.
Egypt as a Place of Exile and Refuge
Egypt also symbolizes a place of exile and refuge in the biblical text. While it is often associated with oppression, it is also depicted as a temporary haven for those seeking safety. For instance, the Holy Family’s flight to Egypt illustrates how this land can serve as a sanctuary from danger. This duality highlights the complexity of Egypt’s symbolism, where it embodies both a place of refuge from immediate threats and a reminder of the challenges of being in a foreign land. It reflects the broader themes of displacement and the search for belonging in the face of adversity.
Egypt as a Representation of Worldly Temptations
In a more spiritual context, Egypt symbolizes worldly temptations and the allure of materialism. The biblical narrative often contrasts the values of Egypt with those of the covenant community, emphasizing the dangers of succumbing to the seductions of wealth, power, and idolatry. This symbolism serves as a cautionary tale, urging believers to remain steadfast in their faith and to resist the temptations that can lead them away from their spiritual commitments. Egypt, in this sense, becomes a metaphor for the distractions and challenges that can hinder one’s relationship with the divine.
How to Embrace Deliverance and Live Redemption Daily
Embracing deliverance and living in redemption daily is a transformative journey that begins with a heartfelt acknowledgment of our need for God’s grace. It’s essential to remember that deliverance isn’t just a one-time event; it’s a continuous process of surrendering our burdens, sins, and fears to Christ. Start each day with prayer, inviting the Holy Spirit to guide you and reveal areas in your life that need healing or change. Immerse yourself in Scripture, allowing God’s Word to renew your mind and strengthen your spirit. Surround yourself with a community of believers who can support and encourage you, sharing in both struggles and victories. As you cultivate a heart of gratitude and forgiveness, you’ll find that living in redemption means actively choosing to reflect Christ’s love in your actions, thoughts, and interactions with others. Remember, it’s not about perfection but about progress—each step you take towards embracing deliverance brings you closer to the abundant life God has promised.
Bible References to Symbolism of Egypt:
Genesis 41:1-57: 1 After two whole years, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the Nile.
2 And behold, there came up out of the Nile seven cows, attractive and plump, and they fed in the reed grass.
3 And behold, seven other cows, ugly and thin, came up out of the Nile after them, and stood by the other cows on the bank of the Nile.
4 So the ugly and thin cows ate up the seven attractive and plump cows. Then Pharaoh awoke.
5 And he fell asleep and dreamed a second time. And behold, seven ears of grain, plump and good, were growing on one stalk.
6 And behold, seven ears, withered, thin, and blighted by the east wind, sprouted after them.
7 And the seven plump ears and the seven full ears were blighted by the east wind.
8 So in the morning his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was none who could interpret them to Pharaoh.
9 Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “I remember my offenses today.
10 Pharaoh was angry with his servants and put me in custody in the captain of the guard’s house, me and the chief baker.
11 So we sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Please give us food. For why should we die before your eyes? For our money is gone.”
12 And there was with us a young man, a Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard. And we told him, and he interpreted our dreams to us, giving an interpretation to each man according to his dream.
13 And there was no one who could interpret them to Pharaoh.
14 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they quickly brought him out of the pit. And when he had shaved himself and changed his clothes, he came in before Pharaoh.
15 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.”
16 Joseph answered Pharaoh, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.”
17 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Behold, in my dream I was standing on the banks of the Nile.
18 Behold, in my dream I was standing on the banks of the Nile.
19 Seven other cows came up after them, poor and very ugly and thin, such as I had never seen in all the land of Egypt.
20 And the lean and ugly cows ate up the first seven plump cows,
21 And when they had eaten them up, the appearance of the cows that came up first was still ugly, as at the beginning.
22 And I saw in my dream, and behold, seven ears, full and good, were growing on one stalk.
23 And behold, seven ears, withered, thin, and blighted by the east wind, sprouted after them,
24 And the thin ears swallowed up the seven plump, full ears. Then Pharaoh awoke, and behold, it was a dream.
25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one; God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do.
26 The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good ears are seven years; the dreams are one.
27 The seven lean and ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and the seven empty ears blighted by the east wind are also seven years of famine.
28 It is as I told Pharaoh; God has shown to Pharaoh what he is about to do.
29 Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt,
30 but after them there will arise seven years of famine, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt. The famine will consume the land,
31 and the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt.
32 And the doubling of Pharaoh’s dream means that the thing is fixed by God, and God will shortly bring it about.
33 Now therefore let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt.
34 Let Pharaoh proceed to appoint overseers over the land and take one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt during the seven plentiful years.
35 They should gather all the food of these good years that are coming and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh for food in the cities, and let them keep it.
36 And that food shall be a reserve for the land against the seven years of famine that are to occur in the land of Egypt, so that the land may not perish through the famine.”
37 This proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants.
38 And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?”
39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are.
40 You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command. Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you.”
41 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.”
42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain about his neck.
43 And he made him ride in his second chariot. And they called out before him, “Bow the knee!” Thus he set him over all the land of Egypt.
44 Moreover, Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no one shall lift up hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.”
45 And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphenath-paneah. And he gave him in marriage Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On. So Joseph went out over the land of Egypt.
46 Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh and went through all the land of Egypt.
47 During the seven plentiful years the earth produced abundantly.
48 And he gathered up all the food of the seven years that the land of Egypt produced, and stored up the food in the cities. He put in every city the food from the fields around it.
49 Joseph stored up grain in great abundance, like the sand of the sea, until he ceased to measure it, for it could not be measured.
50 Before the year of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph.
51 Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh. “For,” he said, “God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father’s house.”
52 The name of the second he called Ephraim, “For God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.”
53 The seven years of plenty that occurred in the land of Egypt came to an end.
54 Then the seven years of famine began to come, as Joseph had said. There was famine in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.
55 When all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph. What he says to you, do.”
56 So when the famine had spread over all the land, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe in the land of Egypt.
57 Moreover, all the earth came to Egypt to Joseph to buy grain, because the famine was severe over all the earth.
Exodus 1:8-22: 8 Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph.
9 And he said to his people, “Behold, the people of Israel are too many and too mighty for us.
10 Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and, if war breaks out, they join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.”
11 Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with heavy burdens.
12 But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And the Egyptians were in dread of the people of Israel.
13 So they ruthlessly made the people of Israel work as slaves.
14 and made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and brick, and in all kinds of work in the field. In all their work they ruthlessly made them work as slaves.
15 Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah,
16 “When you serve as midwife to the Hebrew women and see them on the birthstool, if it is a son, you shall kill him, but if it is a daughter, she shall live.”
17 But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live.
18 But the king of Egypt called the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this, and let the male children live?”
19 Then the midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes to them.”
20 So God dealt well with the midwives. And the people multiplied and grew very strong.
21 And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families.
22 Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, “Every son that is born to the Hebrews you shall cast into the Nile, but you shall let every daughter live.”
Exodus 12:31-42: 31 Then he summoned Moses and Aaron by night and said, “Up, go out from among my people, both you and the people of Israel; and go, serve the Lord, as you have said.
32 Also take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone, and bless me also.
33 The Egyptians were urgent with the people to send them out of the land in haste. For they said, “We shall all be dead.”
34 So the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneading bowls being bound up in their cloaks on their shoulders.
35 The people of Israel had also done as Moses told them, for they had asked the Egyptians for silver and gold jewelry and for clothing.
36 And the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.
37 And the people of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children.
38 A mixed multitude also went up with them, and very much livestock, both flocks and herds.
39 And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough that they had brought out of Egypt, for it was not leavened, because they were thrust out of Egypt and could not wait, nor had they prepared any provisions for themselves.
40 The time that the people of Israel lived in Egypt was 430 years.
41 At the end of 430 years, on that very day, all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt.
42 It was a night of watching by the Lord, to bring them out of the land of Egypt; so this same night is a night of watching kept to the Lord by all the people of Israel throughout their generations.
Deuteronomy 4:20: 20 But the Lord has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be a people of his own inheritance, as you are this day.
Deuteronomy 6:21-23: 21 then you shall say to your son, ‘We were Pharaoh’s slaves in Egypt. And the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand.
22 And the Lord showed signs and wonders, great and grievous, against Egypt and against Pharaoh and all his household, before our eyes.
23 And he brought us out from there, that he might bring us in and give us the land that he swore to give to our fathers.
Isaiah 19:1-25: 1 An oracle concerning Egypt. Behold, the Lord is riding on a swift cloud and comes to Egypt; and the idols of Egypt will tremble at his presence, and the heart of the Egyptians will melt within them.
2 And I will stir up Egyptians against Egyptians,
and they will fight, each against another
and each against his neighbor,
city against city, kingdom against kingdom;
3 And the spirit of the Egyptians within them will be emptied out, and I will confound their counsel; and they will inquire of the idols and the sorcerers, and the mediums and the necromancers.
4 And I will give over the Egyptians into the hand of a hard master, and a fierce king will rule over them, declares the Lord God of hosts.
5 And the waters of the sea will be dried up, and the river will be dry and parched,
6 And they will turn the Nile into blood, and it will be dried up.
7 And the plants of the Nile will be dried up, and all that is sown by the Nile will be parched, will be driven away, and will be no more.
8 Then the fishermen will mourn and lament, all who cast a hook in the Nile; and they will languish who spread nets on the water.
9 Moreover, the workers in combed flax and the weavers of white cotton will be in despair.
10 And they shall be broken in the land of Egypt; and the spirit of the Egyptians within them will be emptied out.
11 The princes of Zoan are utterly foolish;
the wisest counselors of Pharaoh give stupid counsel.
How can you say to Pharaoh,
“I am a son of the wise,
a son of ancient kings”?
12 Where then are your wise men? Let them tell you that they might know what the Lord of hosts has purposed against Egypt.
13 The princes of Zoan have become fools,
the princes of Memphis are deluded;
those who are the cornerstones of her tribes
have made Egypt stagger.
14 The Lord has mingled within her a spirit of confusion,
and they will make Egypt stagger in all its deeds,
as a drunken man staggers in his vomit.
15 And there will be nothing for Egypt that head or tail, palm branch or reed, may do.
16 In that day the Egyptians will be like women, and tremble with fear before the hand that the Lord of hosts shakes over them.
17 And the land of Judah will become a terror to the Egyptians. Everyone to whom it is mentioned will fear because of the purpose that the Lord of hosts has purposed against them.
18 In that day there will be five cities in the land of Egypt that speak the language of Canaan and swear allegiance to the Lord of hosts. One of these will be called the City of Destruction.
19 In that day there will be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the Lord at its border.
20 It will be a sign and a witness to the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt. When they cry to the Lord because of oppressors, he will send them a savior and defender, and deliver them.
21 And the Lord will make himself known to the Egyptians, and the Egyptians will know the Lord in that day and worship with sacrifice and offering, and they will make vows to the Lord and perform them.
22 And the Lord will strike Egypt, striking and healing, and they will return to the Lord, and he will listen to their pleas for mercy and heal them.
23 In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and Assyria will come into Egypt, and Egypt into Assyria, and the Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians.
24 In that day Israel will be the third with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth,
25 whom the Lord of hosts has blessed, saying, “Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel my inheritance.”
Jeremiah 46:1-28: 1 The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the nations.
2 About Egypt. Concerning the army of Pharaoh Neco, king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates at Carchemish, and which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon defeated in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah.
3 “Prepare buckler and shield,
and advance for battle!
4 Harness the horses;
mount, O horsemen!
Take your stations with your helmets,
polish your spears,
put on your armor!
5 “Why have I seen it? They are dismayed and have turned backward. Their warriors are beaten down and have fled in haste; they look not back— terror on every side! declares the Lord.
6 “Let not the swift flee away, nor the warrior escape; for in the north by the river Euphrates they have stumbled and fallen.”
7 “Who is this, rising like the Nile, like rivers whose waters surge?”
8 Egypt rises like the Nile, like rivers whose waters surge. He said, ‘I will rise, I will cover the earth, I will destroy cities and their inhabitants.’
9 Advance, O horses,
and rage, O chariots!
Let the warriors go out:
men of Cush and Put who handle the shield,
men of Lud, skilled in handling the bow.
10 For that day is the day of the Lord God of hosts, a day of vengeance, to avenge himself on his foes. The sword shall devour and be sated and drink its fill of their blood. For the Lord God of hosts holds a sacrifice in the north country by the river Euphrates.
11 Go up to Gilead, and take balm,
O virgin daughter of Egypt!
In vain you have used many medicines;
there is no healing for you.
12 The nations have heard of your shame, and the earth is full of your cry; for warrior has stumbled against warrior; they have both fallen together.”
13 The word that the Lord spoke to Jeremiah the prophet about the coming of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to strike the land of Egypt:
14 “Declare in Egypt, and proclaim in Migdol;
proclaim in Memphis and Tahpanhes;
say, ‘Stand ready and be prepared,
for the sword shall devour around you.’
15 Why are your mighty ones face down? They do not stand because the Lord thrust them down.
16 He made many stumble, and they fell,
and they said one to another,
“Arise, and let us go back to our own people
and to the land of our birth,
because of the sword of the oppressor.”
17 “They cried there, ‘Pharaoh, king of Egypt, is but a noise; he has missed his moment.’”
18 As I live, declares the King, whose name is the Lord of hosts, like Tabor among the mountains and like Carmel by the sea, shall one come.
19 Prepare yourselves baggage for exile, O inhabitants of Egypt! For Memphis shall become a waste, a ruin, without inhabitant.
20 “A beautiful heifer is Egypt,
but a biting fly from the north has come upon her.
21 Even her hired soldiers in her midst are like fattened calves; yes, they have turned and fled together; they did not stand, for the day of their calamity has come upon them, the time of their punishment.
22 The noise of battle is in the land, and great destruction!
23 They shall cut down her forest, declares the Lord,
though it is impenetrable,
because they are more numerous than locusts;
they are without number.
24 “The daughter of Egypt shall be put to shame; she shall be delivered into the hand of a people from the north.”
25 The Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, said: “Behold, I am bringing punishment upon Amon of Thebes, and Pharaoh, and Egypt and her gods and her kings, upon Pharaoh and those who trust in him.
26 I will deliver them into the hand of those who seek their life, into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and his officers. Afterward Egypt shall be inhabited as in the days of old, declares the Lord.
27 “But fear not, O Jacob my servant, nor be dismayed, O Israel, for behold, I will save you from far away, and your offspring from the land of their captivity. Jacob shall return and have quiet and ease, and none shall make him afraid.”
28 Fear not, O Jacob my servant, declares the Lord, for I am with you. I will make a full end of all the nations to which I have driven you, but of you I will not make a full end. I will discipline you in just measure, and I will by no means leave you unpunished.
Ezekiel 29:1-21: 1 In the tenth year, in the tenth month, on the twelfth day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me:
2 “Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him and against all Egypt;”
3 Speak, and say, Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I am against you, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great monster that lies in the midst of his streams, that says, ‘My Nile is my own; I made it for myself.’
4 But I will put hooks in your jaws, and make the fish of your streams stick to your scales. And I will draw you up out of the midst of your streams, with all the fish of your streams that stick to your scales.
5 And I will cast you out into the wilderness, you and all the fish of your streams; you shall fall on the open field, and not be brought together or gathered. To the beasts of the earth and to the birds of the heavens I give you as food.
6 Then all the inhabitants of Egypt shall know that I am the Lord. Because they have been a staff of reed to the house of Israel,
7 When they grasped you with the hand, you broke and tore all their shoulders; and when they leaned on you, you broke and made all their loins to shake.
8 Therefore thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will bring a sword upon you, and will cut off from you man and beast.
9 And the land of Egypt shall be a desolation and a waste. Then they will know that I am the Lord. Because you said, ‘The Nile is mine, and I made it.’
10 therefore, behold, I am against you and against your streams, and I will make the land of Egypt an utter waste and desolation, from Migdol to Syene, as far as the border of Cush.
11 No foot of man shall pass through it, and no foot of beast shall pass through it; it shall be uninhabited for forty years.
12 And I will make the land of Egypt a desolation in the midst of desolated countries, and her cities shall be a desolation forty years among cities that are laid waste. I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and disperse them through the countries.
13 Yet thus says the Lord God: At the end of forty years I will gather the Egyptians from the peoples among whom they were scattered,
14 And I will restore the fortunes of Egypt and bring them back to the land of Pathros, the land of their origin, and there they shall be a lowly kingdom.
15 It shall be the most lowly of the kingdoms, and never again exalt itself above the nations. And I will make them so small that they will never again rule over the nations.
16 And it shall be the most lowly of the kingdoms, and never again exalt itself above the nations. And I will make them so small that they will never again rule over the nations.
17 In the twenty-seventh year, in the first month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me:
18 “Son of man, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon made his army labor hard against Tyre. Every head was made bald, and every shoulder was rubbed bare, yet neither he nor his army got anything from Tyre to pay for the labor that he had performed against her.
19 Therefore thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and he shall carry off its wealth and despoil it and plunder it; and it shall be the wages for his army.
20 I have given him the land of Egypt, as a recompense for which he labored, because they worked for me, declares the Lord God.
21 “On that day I will cause a horn to spring up for the house of Israel, and I will open your lips among them. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”
Ezekiel 30:1-26: 1 The word of the Lord came to me:
2 “Son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus says the Lord God: “Wail, ‘Alas for the day!’”
3 For the day is near, the day of the Lord is near; it will be a day of clouds, a time of doom for the nations.
4 A sword shall come upon Egypt,
and anguish shall be in Cush,
when the slain fall in Egypt,
and her wealth is carried away,
and her foundations are torn down.
5 Cush, and Put, and Lud, and all Arabia, and Libya, and the people of the land that is in league, shall fall with them by the sword.
6 “Thus says the Lord:
Those who support Egypt shall fall,
and her proud might shall come down;
from Migdol to Syene
they shall fall within her by the sword,
declares the Lord God.
7 And they shall be desolated in the midst of desolated countries, and their cities shall be in the midst of cities that are laid waste.
8 And they will know that I am the Lord, when I have set fire to Egypt, and all her helpers are broken.
9 “On that day messengers shall go out from me in ships to terrify the unsuspecting people of Cush, and anguish shall come upon them on the day of Egypt’s doom; for, behold, it comes!”
10 “Thus says the Lord God: “I will put an end to the wealth of Egypt, by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.”
11 He and his people with him, the most ruthless of nations, shall be brought in to destroy the land, and they shall draw their swords against Egypt and fill the land with the slain.
12 And I will dry up the Nile and will sell the land into the hand of evildoers; I will bring desolation upon the land and everything in it, by the hand of foreigners; I am the Lord; I have spoken.
13 “Thus says the Lord God: “I will destroy the idols and put an end to the images in Memphis; there shall no longer be a prince from the land of Egypt; so I will put fear in the land of Egypt.”
14 And I will make Pathros a desolation and will set fire to Zoan and will execute judgments on Thebes.
15 Thus says the Lord God: “I will make the wealth of Egypt cease by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.
16 And I will set fire to Egypt;
Pelusium shall be in great agony;
Thebes shall be breached,
and Memphis shall face enemies by day.
17 The young men of On and of Pi-beseth shall fall by the sword, and the women shall go into captivity.
18 “At Tehaphnehes the day shall be dark,
when I break there the yoke bars of Egypt,
and her proud might shall come to an end in her;
she shall be covered by a cloud,
and her daughters shall go into captivity.
19 Thus I will execute judgments on Egypt. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”
20 In the eleventh year, in the first month, on the seventh day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me:
21 “Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and behold, it has not been bound up, to heal it by binding it with a bandage, so that it may become strong to wield the sword.”
22 Therefore thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt and will break his arms, both the strong arm and the one that was broken, and I will make the sword fall from his hand.
23 And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and disperse them through the countries.
24 And I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon and put my sword in his hand, but I will break the arms of Pharaoh, and he will groan before him like a man mortally wounded.
25 I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, but the arms of Pharaoh shall fall. Then they shall know that I am the Lord, when I put my sword into the hand of the king of Babylon and he stretches it out against the land of Egypt.
26 And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and disperse them through the countries.
Hosea 11:1-11: 1 When Israel was a child, I loved him,
and out of Egypt I called my son.
2 The more they were called, the more they went away; they kept sacrificing to the Baals and burning offerings to idols.
3 Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk; I took them up by their arms, but they did not know that I healed them.
4 I led them with cords of kindness,
with the bands of love,
and I became to them as one who eases the yoke on their jaws,
and I bent down to them and fed them.
5 They shall not return to the land of Egypt,
but Assyria shall be their king,
because they have refused to return to me.
6 The sword shall rage against their cities,
consume the bars of their gates,
and devour them because of their own counsels.
7 My people are bent on turning away from me,
and though they call out to the Most High,
he shall not raise them up at all.
8 How can I give you up, O Ephraim?
How can I hand you over, O Israel?
How can I make you like Admah?
How can I treat you like Zeboiim?
My heart recoils within me;
my compassion grows warm and tender.
9 I will not execute my burning anger;
I will not again destroy Ephraim;
for I am God and not a man,
the Holy One in your midst,
and I will not come in wrath.
10 They shall go after the Lord; he will roar like a lion; when he roars, his children shall come trembling from the west;
11 They shall come trembling like birds from Egypt,
and like doves from the land of Assyria,
and I will return them to their homes, declares the Lord.
Revelation 11:7-8: 7 And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that rises from the bottomless pit will make war on them and conquer them and kill them.
8 and their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city that symbolically is called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified.
Reverend Ogunlade is a seasoned Church Minister with over three decades of experience in guiding and nurturing congregations. With profound wisdom and a serene approach, Reverend Ogunlade has carried out various pastoral duties, including delivering uplifting sermons, conducting religious ceremonies, and offering sage counsel to individuals seeking spiritual guidance. Their commitment to fostering harmony and righteousness within their community is exemplified through their compassionate nature, making them a beloved and trusted figure among the congregation.