Was Egypt like a tall and arrogant cedar tree cut down to size? Is the kingdom of heaven like a small and humble seed growing into a large tree? Let’s begin in Ezekiel 31.
Did God compare Egypt to an enormous cedar tree in the forest?
Now it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the third month, on the first day of the month, that the word of the Lord came to me, saying, (Ezek 31:1 NKJV)
“Son of man, give this message to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and all his hordes: To whom would you compare your greatness? You are like mighty Assyria, which was once like a cedar of Lebanon, with beautiful branches that cast deep forest shade and with its top high among the clouds. Deep springs watered it and helped it to grow tall and luxuriant. The water flowed around it like a river, streaming to all the trees nearby.” (Ezek 31:2-4 NLT)
How impressive was Egypt, using the analogy of a large cedar tree?
Therefore its stature was exalted above all the trees of the field; and its boughs were multiplied. Its branches became long by reason of many waters, when it spread them out. All the birds of the sky made their nests in its boughs. Under its branches, all the animals of the field gave birth to their young. All great nations lived under its shadow. (Ezek 31:5-6 WEB)
How beautiful was Egypt, using the analogy of a large cedar tree?
It became beautiful in its greatness and in its lush foliage, because it took root in plentiful water. No cedar was its equal in God’s garden. The fir trees didn’t have anything like its branches, and the plane trees had nothing like its boughs. None of the trees in God’s garden could compare to it in its beauty. As for its beauty—I made it so, with its abundant foliage. All the trees of Eden envied it, all that were in God’s garden. (Ezek 31:7-9 CEB)
What weak human character traits did the king of Egypt possess? How would God deal with him?
King of Egypt, now listen to what I, the Lord God, am saying about that tree: The tree grew so tall that it reached the sky and became very proud and arrogant. So I, the Lord God, will reject the tree and hand it over to a foreign ruler, who will punish it for its wickedness. Cruel foreigners will chop it down and leave it wherever it falls.
Branches and broken limbs will be scattered over the mountains and in the valleys. The people living in the shade of those branches will go somewhere else. Birds will then nest on the stump of the fallen tree, and wild animals will trample its branches. Never again will any tree dare to grow as tall as this tree, no matter how much water it has. Every tree must die, just as humans die and go down to the world of the dead. (Ezek 31:10-14 CEV)
As Egypt went down to the grave was there mourning among the nations?
Thus says the Lord God: On the day the cedar went down to Sheol I caused mourning; I closed the deep over it, and restrained its rivers, and many waters were stopped. I clothed Lebanon in gloom for it, and all the trees of the field fainted because of it. I made the nations quake at the sound of its fall, when I cast it down to Sheol with those who go down to the pit.
And all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, were comforted in the world below. They also went down to Sheol with it, to those who are slain by the sword; yes, those who were its arm, who lived under its shadow among the nations.
Whom are you thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden? You shall be brought down with the trees of Eden to the world below. You shall lie among the uncircumcised, with those who are slain by the sword. This is Pharaoh and all his multitude, declares the Lord God. (Ezek 31:15-18 ESV)
Did Jesus also describe the kingdom of heaven as like a tree?
He presented another parable to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It’s the smallest of all the seeds, but when grown, it’s taller than the vegetables and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the sky come and nest in its branches.” (Mat 13:31-32 HCSB)
Was Egypt like a tall and arrogant cedar tree cut down to size? Is the kingdom of heaven like a small and humble seed growing into a large tree? You decide!
