Scattered

 And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them throughout the countries. Then they will know that I am the Lord."
Ezekiel 30:26 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/ezk.30.26.ESV

Egypt thousands of years ago was like Russia seems nowadays: an old superpower that had seen better days. In the ascendancy of rival superpower Babylon, many Egyptians were exiled into the wider world. Ezekiel was clear that God was sovereign over this creation of a diaspora.

We might assume that Putin's mismanagement has caused thousands of young Russian men to flee their homeland, from being called up to fight in an unjust war of aggression. Yet I'm sure that Ezekiel would insist that God is sovereign even over dictators' bumblings. The powers that be like to assume that they're like gods.

In reality, there's only One True God: the Lord Almighty. Human authorities might think they can dictate world events, but in reality they're like puppets on a string. If they go off script, God can and does easily discard them.

If there's one thing that God hates, it's arrogance and pride. In our proud attempts to build our own empires, God stops us in our tracks. The only polity that will endure forever is the Kingdom of God, which will overcome all empires and kingdoms of the world.

'Sovereign Lord, may we enter into Your everlasting Kingdom. Help us not to hanker after power and pride, but to humbly submit to Your Majesty. In Jesus' name, amen'

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