This today is a rare third lesson from one of Isaiah’s amazing chapters!

But Isaiah 19 is worthy of that, and a whole lot more. On my desk is a commentary written by a competent Bible student who has devoted a whole premise in his book to Isaiah 19, all of it.

Here’s the Text: “In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians. In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land: whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance.” Isaiah 19:23-25

Wow!

Talk about being “fresh, innovative, bold” in one’s preaching/writing! (Isaiah is certainly that!)

But first (prior to looking at these three verses) let me give a little background to this Promise. It is partly based on another of God’s thousands of promises related in Scripture.

His name was “Ishmael.” (It means “God will hear.” It simply blends “shama,” a Hebrew verb, and “El,” one of God’s Major Old Testament Names.

And he (Ishmael) is a son of Abraham! That tells us he is Semitic in his bloodline, merely meaning a descendent of “Shem,” the oldest son of Noah. (Genesis 6:10 … “And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.”) The Jews are also Semitic.

Oh, Ishmael’s Mother is “Hagar,” an Egyptian! (Due to a crazy idea Abraham and Sarah concocted before God sent Isaac into their lives. God to Abraham: “In Isaac shall thy seed be called.” Genesis 21:12)

No doubt.

But … God also made some promises to Hagar regarding her son of Abraham, too!

Now, God to Hagar: “Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a GREAT NATION.” Genesis 21:18

Later Ishmael married a wife from, of all places … Egypt! “And God was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer. And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran: and his mother took him a WIFE out of the land of EGYPT.” Genesis 21:20-21

Oh, another (earlier) promise concerning Ishmael, this time made to Abraham himself. (In answer to this prayer of Abraham’s, I suspect. “And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!” Genesis 17:18)

Then immediately, the answer from God: “And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; TWELVE PRINCES shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.” Genesis 17:20 (The Twelve Tribes of Ishmael!)

This is the birth of the “Arab” world! Generally speaking … Ishmael is the father of all the Arab nations.

Who (geographically) settled from Egypt to Assyria … that vast swath of land!

Seems that when God says He is going to bless a people … He does exactly that!

An aside: This has nothing to do with Islam, now. Or Mohammed their prophet. But solely with the Arab people. Fact: many Arabs are NOT Islamic, as you know. Though I would not be surprised to see in that final “ingathering” (Isaiah 19:23-25) lots of previous adherents of Islam.

The foregoing information is essential (I think) to a clearer understanding of today’s Text. Let’s look at it now … “In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians. In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land: whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance.” Isaiah 19:23-25

God is building a “highway!” (Well, it’s still in the future, this road construction, during the Millennium, but “as-good-as-done” in the Bible.)

From Egypt to Assyria, thus including the bulk of the Arab (Ishmaelite) world! And that thoroughfare would of necessity go right through … ISRAEL!

Peace, finally!

Israel numbered right along with these (currently) fierce enemies!

And God calling them all “My people!” 

Dear readers here today … this is GOD’S PEACE PLAN for the Arab Israeli conflict!

By the way, I found this Text last night, corroborating our Text. Still from Isaiah’s pen … “And it shall come to pass in that day … ye shall be gathered one by one, O ye children of ISRAEL. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of ASSYRIA, and the outcasts in the land of EGYPT, and SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD in the holy mount at Jerusalem.” Worshipping the Lord … together … Arabs and Jews!

Wow!

I stand amazed!

What a wonderful, loving God we serve.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Yes, finally … Ishmael and Isaac … reconciled!

(Even more miraculous in light of Genesis 16:11-12, God talking to Hagar. “And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name ISHMAEL; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction. And HE WILL BE A WILD MAN; his hand will be AGAINST EVERY MAN, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.”)

A boy named by God Almighty, in advance of his birth! (A pretty exclusive company!)

And a fighter, but one tamed by the Lord!

Dwelling (eternally it appears) with his “brethren,” the Jews!

And all this is found (not in some dreamland) in the inerrant Word of God!

God saving Grace!