Who is God like? Vv. 14-17 God lays low the Egyptian god Apis (translated to ‘warriors’) and pushes them down. Egypt suffers defeat and people will long to go back to their home nation and escape the sword; they will recognize that their idol was never any help. The king of Egypt, which they worshipped, is destroyed. You have to know the reality of today’s Egypt. Once the time of need has arrived, you cannot rise up after missing the opportunity.
Vv. 18-21 God changes glory to ruins. Just as Jerusalem, the capital of Judah and daughter of God was ruined and the people taken as captives, the capital city of Egypt, Noph (Memphis), would also be ruined by Babylon and the people taken into captivity. Their great glory will disappear and their warriors, once like a strong cow, will be powerless and run away in fear. Then, Judah will realize that they must rely on “the King called the Lord Almighty” and not on the king of Egypt, Pharaoh. Because the beauty and strength in this world is comparative, if they become our purpose, we will be overcome by competition and pride. Whose ‘daughter’ are you?
Vv. 22-26 God makes Egypt, once dictator of the world, hiss like a fleeing serpent in the forest. He is about to bring punishment on Amon, god of ‘Thebes’, in the southern capital of upper Egypt, on Pharaoh, and on those who rely on him. He will also punish ‘Noph’ in the north, by handing all of them over to the hands of Babylon. He will not destroy completely, but enough for Judah to know God. Are you still confident in yourself like those who don’t have God? Do you want your children to rule over others boldly with loud voices?
Let me worship the King called ‘The Lord Almighty’ each day.
