There will come a day, according to Isaiah the Prophet, that Egypt (that often divinely judged, anti-Jewish nation) will be “blessed of God!”

Let’s watch the Lord (via the eye of Bible Prophecy) make this happen. And it all begins with a healthy dose of the “Fear of the Lord!”

“In that day shall Egypt be like unto women (silly young girls): and it shall be afraid and fear because of the shaking of the hand of the LORD of hosts, which He shaketh over it (as I said, the Fear of the Lord). And the land of Judah (God’s people) shall be a terror unto Egypt, every one that maketh mention thereof shall be afraid in himself, because of the counsel (Will) of the LORD of hosts, which he hath determined against it.” Isaiah 19:16-17, Egypt under conviction, I would say.

Then read some more. This is miraculous!

“In that day shall five cities in the land of Egypt speak the language of Canaan, and swear (close to worshipping) to the LORD of hosts; one shall be called, The city of destruction. In that day shall there be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar (monument) at the border thereof to the LORD. nd 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.“ Isaiah 19:18-20

There’s even more … “And the LORD shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know (as in being ‘saved’) the LORD in that day, and shall do sacrifice and oblation; yea, they shall vow a vow unto the LORD, and perform it. And the LORD shall smite Egypt: he shall smite and heal it: and they shall return even to the LORD, and he shall be intreated of them, and shall heal them.“ Isaiah 19:21-22, and if we take this literally (which I plan to do), “Salvation will have come to Egypt!” Once idolatrous, God-gating Egypt! This happens during the Millennium!

God and the Nations, amazing!

But I am wondering … WHY? (Or can we ever ask “why” … when the amazing, unlimited Grace of Almighty God is being considered?)

Why EGYPT?

Why not destruction for her, like so many of the other nations in her day?

And at least the partial answer to that question (I believe) rests in the life and death of a young Bible character named Ishmael.

And the promises God made to him, to his mother Hagar really. (We are talking “Abraham” again! After all, Ishmael is a child of the great Patriarch!)

But that takes us into a longer discussion that I can pursue this morning.

So … Isaiah chapter 19 will again be our Text again tomorrow, the Lord willing.

Its last few verses.

I am excited about what we are learning in Isaiah’s vast Prophecy, vast Corpus. Sixty-six whole chapters … no wonder men have given years of their lives studying it.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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.

 

What an ending to a chapter!

(I suspected, as we began this study of Isaiah, to find whole chapters about the Millennium. And there are some. This Prophet is indeed the premier “Kingdom Preacher” of the Old Testament! But I am overwhelmed by the instances of single-verse or two-verse or three-verse proclamations of that coming Golden Age as well.)

And Isaiah 18:7 is a good example.

“In that time shall the present be brought unto the LORD of hosts of a people scattered and peeled, and from a people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation meted out and trodden under foot, whose land the rivers have spoiled, to the place of the name of the LORD of hosts, the mount Zion.”

Now the verse with some explanations inserted into the King James Text. These are NOT corrections, merely synonyms or explanations.

“In that time (during the Millennium) shall the present (some special gift of worship,  an offering) be brought unto the LORD of hosts (God of the armies, Jesus when He comes back to earth) of a people scattered and peeled, and from a people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation meted out and trodden under foot, whose land the rivers have spoiled (the precise description given earlier in the chapter of Ethiopia), to the place (Jerusalem) of the name (Honor, Reputation, Renown) of the LORD of hosts, the mount Zion (precisely, the Temple area).”

Ethiopians saved!

Worshipping God (Jesus) at Jerusalem!

Wow!

Zechariah 8:22 foretells such events … “Yea, many people and strong NATIONS shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD.”

Psalm 68:31 is even more specific, mentioning Ethiopia by name! “Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.” Bible Prophecy at its best! And the whole world will think so too, when this literally occurs! What a Book, our Bible!

And Zephaniah agrees. “For then will I (the Lord) turn to the people a pure language (likely Davidic Hebrew), that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve (adore) him with one consent. From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia (the subject of Isaiah 18) my suppliants (worshippers), even the daughter of my dispersed (scattered), shall bring mine offering. Zephaniah 3:9-10

Yes, a Millennial Verse indeed, our Text today … Isaiah 18:7.

“Saved Ethiopians,” that very term reminding me of Acts chapter 8.

The eunuch!

Please, take time to read it.

“And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of ETHIOPIA, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the ETHIOPIANS, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for TO WORSHIP, was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias (ISAIAH) the prophet. Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: in his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, AND PREACHED UNTO HIM JESUS. 36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 37 And Philip said, IF THOU BELIEVEST with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE SON OF GOD. 38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. 39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.” Acts 8:26-39. I have highlighted some words by capitalizing them.

This man … sort of the “firstfruits” of Ethiopian converts … with many more to follow, “in that day!” 

Hallelujah!

Does God love the world, or not?

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” 

 

Isaiah continues his long section of “Sermons to the Nations of the World.”

And chapter 18 is relatively short, but really quite exciting!

As I have already indicated in the Title of today’s Lesson … this “Woe” (doom announcement) is directed toward the people of Ethiopia. Or more specifically … “Woe to the land shadowing with wings, which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia.” (Verse 1 of Isaiah 17)

“Shadowing” means “buzzing, whirring,” and likely indicates hordes of insects! Indigenous to that part of Africa, I am told. The “Rivers” of Ethiopia speak of the Nile (one of the world’s longest rivers) and its tributaries. Some commentaries say the Land is ancient “Nubia,” to be more precise. (About this time Ethiopia did rise to great power, possessing a great army and seafaring capability.)

Verse 2 hints at her national prowess in those days: “That sendeth ambassadors by the sea, even in vessels of bulrushes upon the waters.” Ethiopia was known for her boats (some it is thought made of papyrus) … just like Isaiah describes! And her diplomacy too!

Now the chapter gets a little cryptic, difficult to comprehend. But I believe the intent is to reveal a Message sent back to the Ethiopians! GOD ALMIGHTY IS DISPATCHING MESSENGERS BACK TO THE PEOPLE OF THAT LAND! “Go, ye swift messengers, to a nation (again, Ethiopia) scattered (prolonged) and peeled (polished, smooth), to a people terrible (awesome) from their beginning hitherto; a nation meted out (measured) and trodden down (who subjugates others), whose land the rivers have spoiled (divided)!

And what does our great God say?

First, in verse 3 God gets the “attention” of the world, the whole world! “All ye inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth, see ye, when he (the Lord) lifteth up an ensign (flag) on the mountains; and when he (God again) bloweth a trumpet, hear ye.” Pretty self-explanatory. Listen everybody!

Now the “HEART” of the chapter … Isaiah relaying the Message: “For so the LORD said unto me, I will take my rest, and I will consider in my dwelling place like a clear heat upon herbs, and like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.” God is “thinking,” planning His Action toward the world. And His next Move will be as “sure,” as “irrevocable” as “the afternoon heat on a Summer day!”  Or as the “clouds” (in the Nile region, remember) during the extremely hot harvest time! (Here is the Lord using His Own creation in one of His Declarations!)

Here is another example of the Lord doing such. “Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; the LORD of hosts is his name: if those ordinances depart from before me, saith the LORD, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever.” Jeremiah 31:35-36, “ordinances!”

Wow!

And I have a feeling that both these quoted Utterances (Isaiah’s and Jeremiah’s) from the Mouth of God … are spoken in defense of Israel!

God is warning Ethiopia to not harm Israel.

That leads me to Isaiah 18:5-6. JUDGMENT IS COMING! I think there are “hints” here, “foreshadowings” of the future last-day Battles mentioned in Revelation. (Though the verses have been fulfilled historically as well. Ethiopia is no longer a world power!) “For afore the harvest, when the bud is perfect, and the sour grape is ripening in the flower, he (maybe through a God appointed enemy aggressor) shall both cut off the sprigs with pruning hooks, and take away and cut down the branches. They shall be left together unto the fowls of the mountains, and to the beasts of the earth: and the fowls shall summer upon them, and all the beasts of the earth shall winter upon them.” Maybe, if not probably, Assyria in Isaiah’s day. But for us … likely God Himself at the Battle of Armageddon!

In this sense Ethiopia becomes a “type, symbol” of the nations of earth. (As the Revelator on Patmos tells us: “Ripe for judgment at Armageddon!”)

Wow!

Is Isaiah a Preacher/Prophet to the world, or not?

I am amazed at the scope of this vast Book, Isaiah!

Truly … the Word of God!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

More from chapter 18 tomorrow, Lord willing.

 

It’s part of Isaiah’s literary “style,” maybe. But then again, the other Old Testament Prophets do it too! (Particularly Hosea comes to mind.) They suddenly segue from “dark” times to “bright” times, in a single chapter. Sometimes in a single paragraph! From “defeat” to “victory!” From great “sorrow” to exhilarating “joy!”

And Isaiah chapter 17 provides us a good example, yet another example.  In the midst of all the “gloom” we fine verses 7 and 8.

“At that day shall a man look to his Maker, and his eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of Israel. And he shall not look to the altars, the work of his hands, neither shall respect that which his fingers have made, either the groves, or the images.” 

This sounds like “conversion!”

A people no longer looking to their gods and goddesses. But NOW looking to their “Maker!” Just as well say, to their “Creator!” Now having “respect” (here: viewing with honor and adoration) to the “Holy One of Israel!” (One of Isaiah’s favorite Names for God! He uses it 25 times in his Corpus!) While this specific string of words is used elsewhere in the Old Testament only 6 times!)

No more idolatry, national revival! “He (Israel, Ephraim) shall not look to the altars, the work of his hands, neither shall respect that which his fingers have made, either the groves, or the images.” A sin Israel (Judah as well) did finally seem to forsake (in the sense of wooden or stone, man-made gods, anyway) … but only after their terrible time of Captivity!

Yes, I just HAD to show you these two Isaiah verses, today’s Text!

But WHEN shall these things fully “come to pass?”

In the Millennium!

Literally this will happen.

When Jesus comes again to earth … to rule from the Throne of David.

One more thought.

At chapter’s end, Isaiah 17:12-14, more good news for Israel. “Woe to the multitude of many people (gentiles against Jews), which make a noise like the noise of the seas; and to the rushing of nations, that make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters! The nations shall rush (armies, deadly battle) like the rushing of many waters (against Israel as a little nation): but God shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like a rolling thing before the whirlwind. And behold at eveningtide trouble; and before the morning he is not. This is the portion of them that spoil us, and the lot of them that rob us.” (Isaiah chapter 17’s last paragraph, its last three verses.)

Wow!

This miraculous repelling of many nations, entities who are attacking Israel, is (to my understanding) exactly (in its fullest sense) what will happen at the Battle of Armageddon! 

God “rebukes” them. God “chases” them! Really, according to the Book of Revelation, God “destroys” them! Strong verbs here, all three of them.

And talk about optimism! And a “hint” of future victory (Judah over Assyria) yet to be studied in Isaiah … “Behold at eveningtide trouble; and before the morning he (the enemy) is not. This is the portion (reward) of them that spoil us, and the lot of them that rob us.” Isaiah 17:14)

Wow!

This is as good as Psalm 30:5, every bit. “For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”

Praise God.

He never totally forsakes His people.

He always keeps His Word!

Hallelujah!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell