Ezekiel 29:3

The next series is four chapters directed against Egypt. The last three were against Tyre with its prince and king. The evil condemned is no longer pride in trade, but self-confident nature, and this especially in political wisdom. We shall see how God brings to nothing the power marked by this, which set itself up in proud independence of Him.

Here Pharaoh is like the crocodile of his rivers, the "long stretched," which is what the word "monster" literally means. You might think this creature took shape from his river, as the king of Egypt does. He is unclean at best, and ungainly — however huge he may be, and however well the scales that enclose him defend him against anything hostile. He clearly lies in no high position. He can see little beyond the banks that shut him in on either side. Yet he can find something to boast about in all this.

What matters in practice is that the river is there, always there. It overflows at a regular time that suits man's purposes. It leaves him little to think about — only how best to guide this supply here and there, which has become his own. Indeed he values himself on this, that he can direct this abundant water with great wisdom to meet his own needs. So Pharaoh can say, as we see him doing here: "My Nile is my own; I made it for myself." In practice the reverse is true: it is the river that has made him.

What a sight for the angels who excel in strength — to see a creature pinned to the earth that carries him, as the crocodile is pinned to his river bank, and yet boasting that he stands in the place of God and is his own god! And this was not Pharaoh's boast alone, as we have already seen. He was a god to himself, and a god to his people too, as is well known.

Canaan is a dependent land. Unlike Egypt, it is not watered by human effort; it drinks straight from the rain of heaven. Egypt must be dependent too, but not so plainly. Its river was its boast, and the sources of supply lay too far away to be noticed easily. Here is a vivid picture of the world in its self-sufficiency and independence of God. They are still sending scientific expeditions to explore the sources of their unfailing river, and their searching has not yet found God.

Egypt represents to us the world in its natural state. It enjoys the good things God provides, yet it is estranged from Him. They do not acknowledge Him as the source of their prosperity. They claim the supply He gives as their own. "My Nile is my own; I made it for myself."

Why is the dragon used as a symbol of Satan? Pharaoh, king of Egypt, in his cruelty to God's people and in proud and haughty independence of God, is called "the great dragon" (Ezek. 29:3-4)... The Egyptians regarded the crocodile, or dragon, according to their hieroglyphics, as the source and author of all evil.

What marked Egypt was the pride of nature, which would follow its own will and acknowledged no God (chap. 29:9). Such a principle shall no longer be the confidence of God's people (v. 16). Egypt should have her place, but should no longer rule. The judgment of Egypt should be the occasion of Israel's blessing.