Context No. 3056 of 4322 · Ezekiel

Ezekiel 30:13-19: in context

13“‘The Lord GOD says: “I will also destroy the idols, and I will cause the images to cease from Memphis. There will be no more a prince from the land of Egypt. I will put a fear in the land of Egypt. 14I will make Pathros desolate, and will set a fire in Zoan, and will execute judgments on No. 15I will pour my wrath on Sin, the stronghold of Egypt. I will cut off the multitude of No. 16I will set a fire in Egypt Sin will be in great anguish. No will be broken up. Memphis will have adversaries in the daytime. 17The young men of Aven and of Pibeseth will fall by the sword. They will go into captivity. 18At Tehaphnehes also the day will withdraw itself, when I break the yokes of Egypt there. The pride of her power will cease in her. As for her, a cloud will cover her, and her daughters will go into captivity. 19Thus I will execute judgments on Egypt. Then they will know that I am the LORD.”’”

God declares judgment on Egypt, and the first target he names is its idols: I will destroy the idols and put an end to the images of Memphis. He will end the rule of its princes, set fire to its cities, break the pride of its power, and then, he says, they will know that I am the LORD.

Notice what is struck first: the idols. Egypt's gods, on which its whole confidence rested, will be shown to be nothing before the LORD. And the purpose recurs like a refrain through the oracle: then they will know that I am the LORD. Even in judgment, God's aim is that the truth of who he is would break through the illusions of idolatry. Egypt trusted its gods and the pride of its own strength, and both would be broken so that the one true God might finally be known for who he is.

What idols and prideful confidences of mine need to be broken so that I truly know the LORD as God?

Sources

Ezekiel 30:13: "I will also destroy the idols, and I will cause the images to cease from Memphis."
Ezekiel 30:19: "Thus I will execute judgments on Egypt. Then they will know that I am the LORD."
Isaiah 19:1: "The idols of Egypt will tremble at his presence."