Links for today’s readings:

Read: Ezekiel 29 Listen: (3:43)
Read: 1 Timothy 1 Listen: (2:59)

Scripture Focus: Ezekiel 29.6-7

6 Then all who live in Egypt will know that I am the Lord.

“ ‘You have been a staff of reed for the people of Israel. 7 When they grasped you with their hands, you splintered and you tore open their shoulders; when they leaned on you, you broke and their backs were wrenched.

Reflection: Splintering or Blossoming Staff?

By John Tillman

Israel and Judah had a complicated relationship with Egypt.

At times, Egypt was a shelter for Israel and a place of safety and prosperity. Abraham, Isaac, Joseph, Jacob, even Jesus took shelter there. At others, Egypt was a place of slavery, death, oppression, and genocide. Joseph and his descendants were enslaved there. Egypt tried to murder Moses’ generation of boys. Moses fled and then returned to set the people free. Sometimes, Egypt was an ally, protector, and political marriage partner. Many of Israel and Judah’s kings took Egyptian wives to seal political alliances. Other times, Egypt was an invader, an enemy, and a conqueror, even placing a puppet king on Judah’s throne.

God described Israel’s relationship with Egypt using the metaphor of a splintering staff that injures those who lean on it. (2 Kings 18.21; Isaiah 36.6; Ezekiel 29.7) When Israel needed support and leaned on Egypt, they got more hurt than help. When it suited Egypt, they supported Israel. When it suited Egypt, they turned abusive and manipulative. We might call the relationship “toxic.”

Staffs represent leadership. Rather than lean on God, trust him, and follow his ways, Israel leaned on their own shrewd dealings and political marriages of convenience. They challenged God’s leadership and chose their own. They went their own way, trusting toxic Egypt.

The benefits of leaning on God go beyond strength alone. God is a strong and life-giving staff.

When Aaron’s leadership was challenged, God confirmed it using his staff. God caused Aaron’s staff to blossom with life, while the other leaders’ staffs stayed dead sticks of wood. (Numbers 17.6-9)

No matter what kind of support we need, God wants us to lean on him and his understanding, not our own. Other staffs will spinter and break, injuring us and wrenching our bodies and minds in the process. Everything and everyone else we might lean on is just dead wood.

Lean on Jesus, a greater help than Egypt or Aaron. Egypt’s staff splintered. Aaron’s staff budded and produced a few almonds. Jesus’ cross has blossomed into a tree of life. Aaron’s staff became a snake that defeated the serpentine staffs of Egypt. (Exodus 7.10-12) Jesus crushes the great dragon, the serpent of sin. (Genesis 3.15)

What staff are you leaning on or recommending to others? Is it an alliance? A person? A party? Every other staff will splinter. Only Jesus will blossom.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons

Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. — Psalm 92.12

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Autumn and Wintertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more about Political Promises

Political parties offer Christians the same speech Sennacherib’s commander made to Jerusalem.

Read more about Horses of Flesh or Spirit

For Israel, a recurring temptation popped up in crisis after crisis. They wanted to go back to Egypt.