Gateway to the Sea
Even in the fog of collapse, the anchor of God's life in me holds firm.
Ezekiel 27 contains a lament from God through Ezekiel over the majestic city of Tyre, once celebrated as the “gateway to the sea.” Its global reach in trade, mastery of maritime skill, and political power made it an icon of human achievement. The city was pictured as a stunning ship crafted with the best materials and manned by experts. Nations relied on it, profited from it, and admired it. But even this polished vessel, with all its wisdom, wealth, and strength, would be shattered by the sovereign wind of God.
The Lord does not criticize Tyre for its beauty or success. Rather, the judgment is tied to its pride and sin. Tyre exalted itself, taking the place of the One who gave it success. The imagery is poetic and tragic: a ship full of cargo and crew suddenly brought down not by a visible enemy, but by the unseen hand of God. Other nations mourn its fall—not because they loved Tyre, but because they needed it. They had built their own hopes on its strength.
This chapter is not just about ancient Tyre. It reveals the ultimate futility of any worldly system that exalts itself apart from God. No matter how magnificent the vessel, if it sails without its Maker, it will not survive the storm.
Personalized Journal Entry in the Holy Spirit’s Voice Through Scripture
You were never called to marvel at the greatness of man, nor to anchor your soul to ships built on worldly wisdom and strength. I have always been the God who brings low the proud and exalts the humble. Though Tyre called itself the gateway to the sea, it failed to see that the earth and its fullness belong to Me.
You do not belong to a crumbling empire, nor to a ship destined to sink. You are not built on the wood of foreign forests or held together by the ropes of human skill. You are joined to Me, the eternal Rock, and your foundation cannot be moved. Others mourn what is passing away, but you rejoice in what cannot be taken from you.
The wind that shattered Tyre is the same breath that filled you with life. You were dead, but I made you alive together with Christ. You have been raised and seated with Him in the heavenly places. No storm can touch that place. No wave can breach it.
I am your safe harbor. The riches of the world rise and fall, but the riches of My grace are immeasurable. You were chosen before the foundation of the world, redeemed not with silver or gold but with the precious blood of Christ. I sealed you with My Spirit, guaranteeing your inheritance.
So let the world wail when its ships go down. You, child of God, are not adrift. You are anchored in Me.
(Ezekiel 27; Psalm 24:1; Ephesians 2:4–7; 1 Peter 1:18–19; Ephesians 1:3–14)
Prayer of Confidence
Father, thank You that I am not tied to the rise and fall of this world. Even as systems collapse and voices cry out in loss, I rest in the unshakable certainty of my union with Christ. You have not placed me aboard a ship vulnerable to destruction, but have made me part of a kingdom that cannot be shaken. I rejoice in Your sovereignty, even over the storms, and I trust You to keep me steady in every moment. May others see Your peace in me as their own vessels begin to fail, and may they be drawn to the sure and steady One who lives in me.
Amen.
Devotional insights based on the Grace and Truth Study Bible (Zondervan, 2021).
Photo credit: Unsplash.com