Isaiah, the best-known Prophet of Israel (Judah), now has a Message/Sermon/Word for Egypt, too!
And while Isaiah’s 19th and 20th chapters both discuss Egypt, for today (and again Monday) we shall study only Isaiah 19. (Note: chapter 20 is quite brief, having only 6 verses.)
Is God going to judge Egypt? (Isaiah 19:1a … “The burden of Egypt.”)
Truthfully, He already has!
Remember those ten plagues?
He already has, more than once.
And Egypt is hardly a world power now, but just a splintered “has-been” nation!
Yet that Country’s future (I suspect due to her virulent Jew hatred) is one of much trial and tribulation, judgment yet again from the Lord.
Let me show you when …
Unexpectedly, the chapter begins with a reference to the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus. “Behold, the LORD rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it.”
Yes, Jesus returns (riding that beautiful white horse of Revelation 19) and His Feet stand in that Day on the Mount of Olives. But then He also traverses (in mighty battle array, as Warrior) the Land of Edom! Read Isaiah 63:1-4 here. “Who is this (Jesus) that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.”
Wow!
Now we’re leaning that the Lord then visits Egypt as well, again at His Revelation! Isaiah 19:1 … “Behold, the LORD (Jesus) rideth upon a swift cloud (the Shekinah), and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it.”
Ultimately, no more false gods there!
But Egypt faces Jesus’ Wrath that day! (“The Wrath of the Lamb,” Revelation 6:16)
Now Isaiah 19:2 … “And I (Jesus) will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians: and they shall fight every one against his brother, and every one against his neighbour; city against city, and kingdom against kingdom.” Civil War!
Isaiah 19:3-4 … “And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof; and I will destroy the counsel thereof: and they shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards. And the Egyptians will I give over into the hand of a cruel lord; and a fierce king shall rule over them, saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts.” Her wise men exposed as fools! And slavery in some form for the Jews’ former taskmasters!
Even judgment upon Egypt’s water supply! (She is famous for her Nile River!) “And the waters shall fail from the sea, and the river (the Nile) shall be wasted and dried up. And they shall turn the rivers far away; and the brooks of defence shall be emptied and dried up: the reeds and flags shall wither. The paper reeds (bulrushes) by the brooks, by the mouth of the brooks, and every thing sown by the brooks, shall wither, be driven away, and be no more. The fishers also shall mourn, and all they that cast angle into the brooks shall lament, and they that spread nets (no fish) upon the waters shall languish. Moreover they that work in fine flax (bulrushes), and they that weave networks, shall be confounded. And they shall be broken in the purposes thereof, all that make sluices and ponds for fish.” (Isaiah 19:5-10) Economically, Egypt is the Nile River. Destroy or reroute that river, and Egypt suffers an existential crisis!
The chapter continues with another paragraph about the dismantling of Egypt’s self-proclaimed “wise men.” See verses 13 and 14 … “The princes of Zoan are become fools, the princes of Noph are deceived; they have also seduced Egypt, even they that are the stay of the tribes thereof. The LORD hath mingled a perverse spirit in the midst thereof: and they have caused Egypt to err in every work thereof, as a drunken man staggereth in his vomit.” Paul calls this “strong delusion!”
There’s even more: “In that day shall Egypt be like unto women: and it shall be afraid and fear because of the shaking of the hand of the LORD of hosts, which he shaketh over it.” Verse 16, national terror, cowardice rampant, no more spirit to fight!
Yes, that Nation will PAY for her wrongs, sins against God.
But … all of a sudden … “wrath” turns to “Grace!”
Monday’s Lesson, of course.
But still, let’s read ahead a bit … “In that day shall there be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof to the LORD. And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt: for they shall cry unto the LORD because of the oppressors, and he shall send them a saviour, and a great one, and he shall deliver them.” Verses 19-20 in Isaiah 19 … amazing!
Conversion!
And forgiveness!
One of Isaiah’s most astounding chapters … and what one current writer calls “God’s Peace Plan,” Isaiah chapter 19, especially that last Paragraph!
I’m excited!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
Come back Monday.