Ezekiel 30:20-26: a reflection

20In the eleventh year, in the first month, in the seventh day of the month, the LORD’s word came to me, saying, 21“Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Behold, it has not been bound up, to apply medicines, to put a bandage to bind it, that it may become strong to hold the sword. 22Therefore the Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and will break his arms, the strong arm, and that which was broken. I will cause the sword to fall out of his hand. 23I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries. 24I 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 the king of Babylon with the groaning of a mortally wounded man. 25I will hold up the arms of the king of Babylon, but the arms of Pharaoh will fall down. Then they will know that I am the LORD when I put my sword into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he stretches it out on the land of Egypt. 26I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them through the countries. Then they will know that I am the LORD.’”

In this oracle against Egypt, God uses a vivid image for the strength of nations and their rulers: the arm. I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt, God says; and, I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon and put my sword in his hand, but the arms of Pharaoh will fall. The strength of these rulers, pictured as the arm that wields the sword, is shown to be entirely in God's hands: he strengthens one arm and breaks another, as he wills.

Notice who holds the strength of the mighty: God does. Pharaoh's arm, his power, was not his own to keep; God broke it. Babylon's strength was not self-made; God strengthened it and put the sword in its hand. The strength of nations and rulers, however great it seems, is given by God and can be broken by God; it is his to grant or to remove. No human strength stands on its own, independent of the God who upholds it.

That is a humbling and steadying truth. It humbles us, for whatever strength we have, our abilities, our health, our position, our power, is not our own achievement but given by God, who can break the arm he has strengthened. And it steadies us, for the strength of those who oppose us is likewise in God's hands, not ultimately their own. Do not boast in your own strength as though it were yours to keep; hold it humbly, as a gift from God who can take it away. And do not be overawed by the strength of others, for their arm too is in God's hands. All strength is God's to give and to break; depend on him rather than trusting in any arm of flesh, your own or another's.

Lord, in this oracle you showed that the strength of rulers is in your hands: you broke the arm of Pharaoh and strengthened the arm of Babylon, granting and removing strength as you willed. Humble and steady me with that truth. Whatever strength I have, my abilities, my health, my position, is not my own achievement but given by you, who can break the arm you have strengthened. Keep me from boasting in my own strength as though it were mine to keep; help me hold it humbly, as a gift from you who can take it away. And keep me from being overawed by the strength of others, for their arm too is in your hands, not ultimately their own. All strength is yours to give and to break; help me depend on you rather than trusting in any arm of flesh, my own or another's. You hold all strength; let me rest in you, and not in the strength of any.