Ezekiel

Ezekiel 31: God humbles towering greatness

Begin in prayer

Before seeing a towering cedar fall, let us thank God for the gifts we did not create. Ask Him for still hearts, His presence with this family and eyes to see Christ as we read Ezekiel 31.

According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted. Therefore they have forgotten me.

Hosea 13:6

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Help us understand Your warning against pride and see Jesus, whose saving greatness leads us to humble faith. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

God addresses Pharaoh by describing Assyria as a tall and beautiful cedar sheltering nations beneath its branches. God made it beautiful, yet its heart became proud of its height. He delivered it to the mighty one of the nations and drove it out for wickedness. Strangers cut it down, and the peoples abandon its shade. God causes mourning and makes nations shake at its descent among the dead, warning other trees against exalting themselves. Pharaoh and his multitude will likewise be brought low, lying among those slain by the sword.

As you read Ezekiel 31, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God humbles the proud greatness He once made beautiful, warning rulers that they too will fall.

The cedar pictures Assyria's great power, with nations sheltering beneath its branches, and God asks Pharaoh to compare his own greatness with it. God says He made it beautiful, so its splendor depended on Him before its lifted heart turned that gift into pride. He names wickedness as the reason He drives it out, explaining why a magnificent tree is handed to destruction. The abandoned shade shows that the peoples once protected by its power cannot preserve it when God judges. Its descent among the dead puts towering rulers beside others whose greatness has already ended. God makes this fall a warning against pride in every other tree. Pharaoh and his multitude must recognize their own coming humiliation in the fate of the greatness they resemble.

How does Ezekiel 31 show us that God humbles the proud greatness He once made beautiful, warning rulers that they too will fall?

God gives the greatness that rulers enjoy.

Assyria is pictured as a cedar nourished by many waters (verses 1 to 9). Nations live under its shade. God says He made it beautiful with its many branches.

God brings down greatness turned into pride.

The cedar's heart is lifted up with its height (verses 10 to 14). God delivers it to the mighty one of the nations. Its broken branches and abandoned shade warn other trees against pride.

God's warning reaches Pharaoh and his people.

God makes nations shake when the great tree descends among the dead (verses 15 to 18). Its former helpers go down with it. Pharaoh and his multitude will lie among the uncircumcised, with those slain by the sword.

Memorize

I will even deliver him into the hand of the mighty one of the nations; he shall surely deal with him; I have driven him out for his wickedness.

Ezekiel 31:11

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, what gift makes me proud? Have I come to Jesus, who humbled Himself?

The Lord declares what made the cedar beautiful, “I made it beautiful by the multitude of its branches”. Yet its heart rose in pride, and He brought it down. Pharaoh must learn from the fallen power before him. Every gift we receive remains a reason to honor its Giver.

Jesus came in humility to save His people from their sins. He took the judgment their pride and rebellion deserved, dying for them on the cross. His obedience brought their redemption to completion, and His sacrifice is enough to reconcile them to God. He rose from the dead, and His saving authority endures beyond every earthly ruler.

Please turn from your sin and believe in the Lord Jesus. He gives forgiveness to all who come to Him in faith. Confess the pride that has grown out of His kindness to you. Ask Him to teach you gratitude and glad dependence on the Savior who has accomplished salvation.

Parent's note

Tell your children that God's gifts cannot excuse pride, and Jesus died and rose to save those who trust Him. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for His gifts and His warning against pride, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

For we brought nothing into the world, and we certainly can’t carry anything out.

1 Timothy 6:7

Father, thank You for every kindness we have received from You. Forgive the pride that turns Your gifts into reasons for boasting, and help each one repent and trust Jesus. Please teach us gratitude, humble dependence and love for the Savior who gave Himself to save His people. Amen.