Ezekiel 29:6-12: a reflection

6“‘“All the inhabitants of Egypt will know that I am the LORD, because they have been a staff of reed to the house of Israel. 7When they took hold of you by your hand, you broke and tore all their shoulders. When they leaned on you, you broke and paralyzed all of their thighs.” 8“‘Therefore the Lord GOD says: “Behold, I will bring a sword on you, and will cut off man and animal from you. 9The land of Egypt will be a desolation and a waste. Then they will know that I am the LORD. “‘“Because he has said, ‘The river is mine, and I have made it,’ 10therefore, behold, I am against you and against your rivers. I will make the land of Egypt an utter waste and desolation, from the tower of Seveneh even to the border of Ethiopia. 11No foot of man will pass through it, nor will any animal foot pass through it. It won’t be inhabited for forty years. 12I will make the land of Egypt a desolation in the middle of the countries that are desolate. Her cities among the cities that are laid waste will be a desolation forty years. I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries.”

As God pronounces judgment on Egypt, he describes what Egypt had been to Israel, a support that failed when leaned on: they have been a staff of reed to the house of Israel. When they took hold of you by your hand, you broke. Egypt had seemed a strong support, something to lean on for help; but like a reed, it broke under the weight, failing those who trusted it. Israel had leaned on Egypt instead of God, and found it an unreliable support that broke when they needed it, wounding those who trusted it rather than holding them up.

Notice the picture: Egypt as a staff of reed that broke when leaned on. A reed looks like it might support weight, but it snaps and even wounds the hand that leans on it. So Egypt had seemed a support to Israel, something to rely on for help and security; but it was an unreliable support, breaking under the weight, failing those who trusted it. Israel had leaned on the wrong thing, an unreliable support that could not hold them; and when they leaned their weight on it, it broke, wounding rather than helping. The reed could not bear the weight put on it; it failed precisely when it was trusted and needed most.

That is worth taking to heart, for we too can lean on unreliable supports that break under our weight, rather than on God. We lean on many things for our security and help, our own resources, other people, worldly means, sources of support that seem strong; but like a staff of reed, these can break under our weight, failing us when we most need them, as Egypt failed Israel. To lean our full weight on what cannot hold us is to be wounded when it breaks. Do not lean your weight on unreliable supports that will break when you most need them, as Israel leaned on Egypt; lean on God, who does not break. Lean on God rather than on unreliable supports that break under your weight, as Egypt proved a staff of reed to Israel that broke when they leaned on it; for the supports of this world, however strong they seem, can fail us when we most need them, and only God is a support that will not break beneath our weight.

Lord, as you pronounce judgment on Egypt, you describe what Egypt had been to Israel, a support that failed when leaned on: they have been a staff of reed to the house of Israel; when they took hold of you by your hand, you broke. Egypt had seemed a strong support, something to lean on for help; but like a reed, it broke under the weight, failing those who trusted it. Israel had leaned on Egypt instead of you, and found it an unreliable support. Show me the picture: Egypt as a staff of reed that broke when leaned on. A reed looks like it might support weight, but it snaps and even wounds the hand that leans on it. So Egypt had seemed a support to Israel, something to rely on for help and security; but it was an unreliable support, breaking under the weight. Israel had leaned on the wrong thing, an unreliable support that could not hold them. The reed failed precisely when it was trusted and needed most. Take that to my heart, for I too can lean on unreliable supports that break under my weight, rather than on you. I lean on many things for my security and help, my own resources, other people, worldly means, sources of support that seem strong; but like a staff of reed, these can break under my weight, failing me when I most need them. Keep me from leaning my weight on unreliable supports that will break when I most need them, as Israel leaned on Egypt; help me lean on you, Lord, who do not break, for only you are a support that will not break beneath my weight.