Today you should read: Ezekiel 17
The story of Ezekiel 17 explained in simpler way: One great eagle transplants a twig from the cedar tree and a seed. The seed becomes a great vine, but a second lesser eagle comes along and attracts the vine. The vines attraction leads it to draw away from the first eagle.
The story is a parable and thus has a deeper meaning. The meaning is this: The first eagle is Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon. He takes Judah’s king Jehoiachin (the twig) to Babylon. The seed is Zedekiah, who is the royal offspring discussed in verse 13. Zedekiah’s failure is that he broke a covenant with Nebuchadnezzar and followed the king of Egypt (the lesser eagle in our story.) Zedekiah put his hope in a nation rather than God. Ultimately, Zedekiah rejected God’s covenant (v. 19) and because of this, disaster is about to come upon him (v. 20-21).
The thing I think we can takeaway from this chapter is how easily humans trust in worldly things. We have all done this before in our lives. We believe money will solve all our problems. Or we believe that a relationship will fix the loneliness that we feel. Or we think we can receive true happiness when we get a job promotion. But all of these are temporary fixes to a permanent problem. Zedekiah believed Egypt was a better help to him than God was. He looked at their military ability and thought “Those are the people I need on my side”, not realizing that God who wiped out the whole Egyptian army with a sea was on his side, if he would just seek Him. Zedekiah’s failure was his trust in worldly things.
So let me ask you: where are you putting your trust? In the God of the universe who is all-powerful, all-knowing, and covenant keeping? Or in the world who fades away and changes?
By: Brice Stockton — Student Ministry Associate
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Great lesson today, Brice! It’s so tempting to rely on the things of this world instead of the One who made it. Heavenly Father, please help us to keep our eyes and hearts fixed on You.