Daily Devotions
Jeremiah
"I will bring punishment on Amon of No"
Text: Jeremiah 46:25
THE MANY GODS OF EGYPT
The ancient Egyptians worshipped a pantheon of deities. There were many different kinds of things that were worshipped as gods. The LORD would punish all involved in idolatrous practices that often included great cruelty to people.
“The LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, says:
‘Behold, I will bring punishment on Amon of No,
and Pharaoh and Egypt, with their gods and their kings—
Pharaoh and those who trust in him.
And I will deliver them into the hand of those who seek their lives,
into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon
and the hand of his servants.
Afterward it shall be inhabited as in the days of old,’ says the LORD.”
Jeremiah 46:25-26
1. “The LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, says:
‘Behold, I will bring punishment on Amon of No, and Pharaoh and Egypt,
with their gods and their kings—Pharaoh and those who trust in him'”
a) God was not just “the God of Israel”.
b) He was also the LORD of hosts.
c) He is also the God who is sovereign over Egypt.
d) Judgment that would be meted out against Egypt:
i) Amon was a well-known Egyptian deity.
ii) He was particularly worshipped in No (Thebes).
iii) Thebes was the cult centre of Amon.
iv) Thebes was an ancient capital and may be compared to
Nineveh of the Assyrians in its magnificence.
e) The judgment would fall on:
i) The Pharaoh
ii) The city and Egypt
iii) And all who trust in the protection of Amon.
iv) The “kings” is a reference to all who ruled in the name of Pharaoh.
2. “And I will deliver them into the hand of those who seek their lives, into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and the hand of his servants.”
a) The mighty city of Thebes in which many took pride,
would be delivered to Nebuchadnezzar and his servants.
b) Thebes was a major city, famous for sphinx that was supposed to represent Amon.
c) Many pyramids were built in this major city.
3. “‘Afterward it shall be inhabited as in the days of old,’ says the LORD”
a) In the LORD’s grace and mercy, the punishment would not result in
permanent destruction.
b) The punishment was designed:
i) To humble Thebes and the Pharaoh.
ii) To warn the remnant of Judah not to trust in the Amon of No.
c) There was a word of comfort and hope.
One day, Thebes would be rebuilt and be inhabited again.