The punishment for Egypt

JEREMIAH   CHAPTER 46

THE NEXT SIX CHAPTERS ARE JEREMIAH'S PROPHECIES AGAINST THE FOREIGN NATIONS ALL GROUPED TOGETHER. MANY OF THESE NATIONS THOUGHT THEY WERE IMMUNED FROM THE PUNISHMENT FOR THEIR SINS, BUT THEY RECEIVED THEIRS AS WELL.

Thus began messages given to Jeremiah from the Lord concerning foreign nations:
In the 4th reign of Josiah, king of Judah and at the battle of Carchemish where the Pharoah Neco of Egypt was defeated by King Nebuchadnezzaar of Babylon, the Lord told the warriors to advance into battle by harnessing their horses and sharpening their spears and preparing their armor. And while they did all this, the Egytians fled in terror.

But previous to this battle, the Egyptians boasted that it would cover the earth like a flood. Even bolstered by their allies from Ethiopia, Libya and Lydia the Lord told that the Egyptians would all be sacrificed beside the Euphrates River. Not even their many medicines could bring the healing and their mightiest warriors would stumble and fall together. And so when the Egyptians failed, the Babylonians called the Pharoah a loudmouth who missed his opportunity.

Then about King Nebuchadnezzar's plan to attack Egypt, the Lord gave the message to shout their message of coming destruction to all the cities. For the sword of destruction would devour everyone around them and the Egyptian warriors would flee in terror because the Lord drove them away. Then the Lord told of one who would be coming against Egypt who would be as tall as Mount Tabor or Mount Carmel by the sea. And he would destroy the city of Memphis because it was a time for punishment for Egypt and it would be handed over to men from the north.

The Lord also punished Amon, the god of Thebes and all other gods of Egypt and hand their rulers over to the babylonians. Now God shifted his message and mentions Jacob, his servant. He asks Israel to not be dismayed, for he will bring it home again from distant lands and their children would return from exile and peace would reign again. God said he must discipline Israel, but would not destroy the people.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: The battle of Carchemishin 605 B.C. was major because Egypt was defeated and thus the world leadership shifted to Babylon establishing the Babylonian Empire.  The soldiers from Ethiopia and Libya were from eastern and northern Africa. Lydia may have been Greece.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? Why did the Egyptians flee? Because God had the enemy spread huge rumors about their strength. The Egptians saw that the enemies' troops were as numerous as grasshoppers.

This chapter talks about strategies of war and punishment. But God truly punished his people in order to bring them back to him. He does the same thing today, but often we don't see it until much later.

(From the NLT Bible notes: This chapter gives us several insights into God's plan for the world: 1. God chose Israel for a special purpose, he loves all people and wants them to come to him. 2. He is holy and will not tolerate sin. 3. His judgments are not based on desire for revenge, but on fairness and justice. 4. He does not delight in judgment, but in SALVATION.5. God is impartial- he judges everyone by the same standard.)
Of course nobody wants punishment, but we should welcome its results if correction brings purity.

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:


HEALTH:

Pray for my grandson and new baby Gunar who was born with kidney problems.

Pray for Gabe.

Pray for Gary and Steve my insurance men who have prostate cancer.

Pray for Arlene’s nephew David and for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life.

Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer and who recently underwent major surgery.

Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with a form of MS.

Pray for Robert Sargent who is quite ill with lung cancer.

Pray for Gary Summers, my friend from church, who has cancer.

Pray too for Charly’s husband Robert who has been undergoing chemo. Pray also for Charly who longs to be 100 percent again and walk without an aid.

Pray for James’s sister Cynthia whose chemo has lost its effect as the cancer grows powerful.

SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary

RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John

LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian

SUPPORT: Pray for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom. Pray for our farmers and those who raise livestock during this terrible drought.