I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Ezekiel 29-31.

    In yesterday’s passage Ezekiel prophesied against Tyre and Sidon. In today’s passage he prophesies against Egypt. The rulers of Egypt had become convinced that their geographic advantages were a result of their inherent superiority to others, rather than a blessing which they had been given. They believed that their advantages were a result of their greatness rather than the other way around. They failed to believe there was a power greater than themselves. Ezekiel told them that because of this God would bring disaster upon them so that their people would know that there was indeed a higher power. Further, Ezekiel prophesied that never again would Egypt be a world power. Never again would the people of Israel be tempted to rely on Egypt rather than on God.

    This is a warning to every nation, every people, and every organization: both you and your leaders are answerable to a higher power. I read an article about the scandal embroiling the Catholic Church. In the article the author, a practicing Catholic, stated that the problem the Catholic Church is experiencing is more about power than about sex. He is correct, but it is more than that. The Catholic Church is facing this problem because its leaders (or, at least some significant fraction of them) have forgotten that they are no more than stewards of God’s work. They have come to believe that they are somehow superior to others and need never answer to a power greater than the organization of which they are a part. They have come to believe that since they have gained control over the levers of power in the Catholic Church they will not be held accountable.
    The root of the problem in the Catholic Church is that its leaders (or, at least some significant fraction of them) believe that they are the source of their own authority. They do not believe that the Bible is truly authoritative. Because if they believed that the Bible Was authoritative they would see the messages which God sent to the people of Israel and recognize that they apply to them as well. This is not a problem which is unique to the Catholic Church. A look around will quickly show you that every organization of man is subject to this temptation. There are other Church bodies which have leaders who have made the same mistake. God will, in His time, make sure that people know that He is the final authority.