The Enemy
From Saturday morning cartoons to films like Bedazzled, popular culture often portrays Satan as a comical figure—red tights, pitchfork, and a mischievous grin. We know he’s wicked, but we treat him as if he’s harmless or even charming. Scripture paints a far different picture.
Ezekiel 32:2 likens Pharaoh to a “monster in the seas”—a terrifying, chaotic force. The Hebrew word tannin evokes images of Leviathan, a symbol of spiritual rebellion and destructive pride. Satan is not a cartoon. He is the embodiment of deception, pride, and death. When we trivialize him, we lower our guard against the very force that seeks to devour us.
A Shark
When I was twenty-one, I worked launching fishing boats in Trinidad, California—a quaint port just south of the Oregon border. After the fishermen set out, I’d often join my girlfriend’s grandfather in his fourteen-foot cuddy-cabin boat for a day on the water.
One day, far from shore, I looked over the side and saw a massive dorsal fin slicing through the waves. It was a 25-foot creature—at first glance, a great white shark. I had just watched Jaws, and I was sure we needed a bigger boat.
But it wasn’t a great white. It was a whale shark—gentle, filter-feeding, and harmless. From above, it looked terrifying. But its nature was benign. That moment taught me something: we often fear the wrong things and dismiss the genuine threats. Satan is not a misunderstood creature. He is a predator cloaked in charm.
The Judgment
Many churches avoid preaching about Satan or sin. They fear losing congregants who prefer messages of love and acceptance. But Ezekiel 32:7 reminds us that God will judge this world. The fall of Meshech and Tubal (Ezekiel 32:26) shows that even mighty warrior nations are not exempt from divine justice.
As Ezekiel was called to be a watchman, so are we. We must warn others of what’s coming (Ezekiel 33:3–6). Jesus gave us the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19–20), and with it, the responsibility to speak truth. If we fail to warn, their blood is on our hands (Ezekiel 33:8–16). A higher standard applies to teachers (James 3:1).
Entitlement
Ezekiel 33:24–26 reveals a culture of entitlement. The people claimed Abraham’s inheritance but refused to walk in obedience. Today, we see the same—believers who know they’re saved but live unchanged. James 1:22 calls us to be doers of the Word, not hearers only.
We must live as if Jesus redeemed us. The gospel is not just about comfort—it’s about transformation. When we dilute it with prosperity or self-help, we abandon the call to holiness.
The Hope
Thankfully, Ezekiel doesn’t end in judgment. Chapter 34 brings hope. God condemns the corrupt shepherds who exploited His flock (Ezekiel 34:2–3), but then He declares:
“I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out” (Ezekiel 34:11).
This is not passive care. He actively pursues us. God binds the broken, seeks the scattered, and judges between rams and goats (Ezekiel 34:17–20). He promises a new Shepherd, a descendant of David, who will rule with justice and compassion (Ezekiel 34:23). That Shepherd is Jesus (John 10:11).
The Warning
Don’t miss the call of the trumpet. When you hear the warning—whether from Scripture, your pastor, or a devotional like this—heed it. Repent. Turn from self-centered ways. Trust Jesus not only to forgive your sin, but to transform your desires.
He is watching. He is calling. Let Him be your guide today.
Tomorrow, we will read Ezekiel 35-37.
Citations
Top 10 Lessons from Ezekiel 32–Bible Hub
Spielberg, Steven, director. Jaws. Universal Pictures, 1975.
Ezekiel 34 Explained–God’s Blessing3
Study Guide for Ezekiel 34–Blue Letter Bible