Ezekiel 31:2-3a Son of man, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, and to his multitude; Whom art thou like in thy greatness? Behold, the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon with fair branches…
It is a wise person who knows where he is going because he knows where he has been. He knows where things are going because he has looked at life and knows that certain unchangeable results come from certain actions. One of those unchangeable principles is in reference to our regard for self.
In Ezekiel 31 God is telling the mighty Pharaoh of Egypt that his pride is unfounded because he will be just like the kings that have gone before him. In verse 2 God says, “Son of man, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, and to his multitude; Whom art thou like in thy greatness?” He is saying to Pharaoh, “Who are you like? Whose end are you following?”
The answer is in verse 3, “Behold, the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon with fair branches.” He compares these kings and their kingdoms to mighty trees, and their resources to the water they were taking up through their roots. He likens Assyria to a mighty cedar of Lebanon which was both mighty and symmetrical, a beautiful tree. He says, “Just like Assyria was mighty and yet fell to Babylon, so you are mighty but you will fall to Babylon as well.”
You learn from this that all you need to know about pride you can learn from the previous generation. Pharaoh, like the Assyrians and other kings before him, was exalted. Verse 5 says, “Therefore his height was exalted.” Just like a mighty tree, they were lifted up, proud, and smug. Why was that? Verse 7 tells us, “Thus was he fair in his greatness.” They were exalted and arrogant because they were great. They had all kinds of resources. They were like a tree that had roots by great waters.
Yet, all resources at some point dry up. The result is found in verses 10-11, which say, “Therefore thus saith the LORD God; Because thou hast lifted up thyself in height, and hath shot up his top among the thick boughs, and his heart is lifted up in his height; I have therefore delivered him into the hand of the mighty one.”
Verse 14 says, “To the end that none of all the trees by the waters exalt themselves for their height… all that drink water: for they are all delivered unto death.” Every kingdom that has ever come before has come to naught. Egypt will never be a mighty empire again. God said so in previous chapters, and it is so. It has been true of Assyria, Egypt, and Babylon, and it will be true of America, Russia, and every country of which you can think. Each serves at the pleasure of a God Who is sovereign.
Now if all nations will die, don’t you think that is true of individuals? Of course it is! Pride is a relative thing. It is related to how I compare to other people, but that doesn’t speak of where I am compared to an eternal and omnipotent God. “To whom art thou thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden?” God asks Pharaoh. The answer is, “You are mighty compared to another kingdom, but the other kingdom has died and is forgotten. So will you be.”
We look at the health, wealth, and greatness of others around us, but no matter who they are or what they have done, every person ever born eventually dies. That is why you and I are wise to take account of that which does not die, that One Who is omnipotent, omniscient, and everlasting, God. In short, all you need to know about pride you can learn from the previous generation. So, take stock, take heed, and take note. Make sure you live your life in light of the God Who gives you life.