Ezekiel 30 follows up chapter 29, which was a prophecy against Egypt, with a lament for Egypt. This pattern has become consistent over the past several chapters with the LORD first pronouncing judgment against a nation through a prophetic pronouncement, and then following it up with a lament. The lament is quite extensive, and includes the names of many of the major cities of Egypt. The common theme is each will be destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon. The men will be killed by the sword and the women will be carried off into captivity. The judgment comes for Egypt’s idolatry. The LORD would use an idolatrous nation, Babylon, to destroy other idolatrous nations, but in the end those who turn from Him always receive judgment. Babylon’s time would also come.
Ezekiel 31 offers a pronouncement of doom specifically for Pharaoh of Egypt. The chapter includes a metaphor using trees to compare Pharaoh and Egypt to Assyria, and even to the garden of God. But after a long discourse pointing out that all these “trees” would go down to Sheol, we come back to the world of reality and it is Pharaoh who will be “cut down.”
Ezekiel 32 offers another lament for Pharaoh and Egypt. Pharaoh considered himself a “lion,” but the LORD says he was a “dragon,” in the Nile and the LORD was going to catch him in His dragnet and cast him onto the land, where he would be destroyed. Pharaoh’s death (and the death of Egypt) would be “watched” by the nations that had already been destroyed, (from Sheol we assume). We are given a long list of the lands and kings that would watch and wail, just as we had the same type of pronouncement for Tyre. As we have continued through the Book of Ezekiel, we have seen the LORD is not a “local” God. He is not only the God of Israel, but the God over all the nations, and He stands in judgment against them for their idolatry, pride, and unwillingness to know and serve Him.
As we return to Matthew 25, Jesus tells three parables of the Kingdom. Each one makes it clear we must be ready when Jesus returns. The first parable is the Parable of the Ten Virgins. All were waiting for the bridegroom (Jesus) to come. Five of the virgins were wise, as demonstrated by their bringing extra oil for their lamps, in case the bridegroom was delayed in his coming. the other five were foolish–they didn’t bring extra oil. When their lamps were out of oil, the five foolish bridesmaids asked the wise ones to give them some oil. The first five wouldn’t do so, because they might not have enough left for themselves. While the foolish virgins went to search for a place to buy oil (which wasn’t likely to be found in the middle of the night!) the bridegroom returned. The foolish virgins were locked out when they came to the wedding. What a clear reminder of our need to be ready for Jesus’ return.
Next, Jesus tells the Parable of the Talents, so named, because a master went on a trip and entrusted his money (talents) to three of his servants. He gave one five talents, another two, and another one. We’re told each received the amount that accorded with his ability. While the master was away, the first two servants doubled their master’s money, while the third one buried the money and did nothing with it. Upon the master’s return the first two servants were lauded by the master for their faithfulness, and told to enter the joy of their master’s kingdom. The master called the third servant lazy and wicked and cast him out. Again, the parable shows us our need for diligence and readiness as we wait for our Master’s return.
Finally, Jesus tells the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats. In this parable Jesus tells us directly when He returns He will divide people into “sheep” and “goats.” The sheep will be the ones who have met His needs, by doing acts of service and kindness to those around them in need. The goats will be the ones who have left the deeds undone. While this is not a treatise on works-righteousness, that is being made righteous by our works, it is a reminder that we aren’t to sit under a tree and wait for Jesus to come back. Our task is to be diligently about the work of the Kingdom as we wait for Jesus’ return. In each of the parables, the faithful ones are rewarded, while the unfaithful ones are punished. While some modern folks might be “upset” by this truth, it is found over and over again in Jesus’ life and ministry. That means we must take it seriously and live our lives accordingly.