| | | | Isaiah Chapter 19 - Egypt, a recipient of God's grace... Looking at the events of the past few years, it's pretty evident that the nation of Egypt is in a state of chaos. After President Hosni Mubarak was forced from power, things have gone steadily downhill. Not that they were great before he left office. Interestingly, Egypt's troubles were spoken of by God some 2,700 years ago.
Isaiah chapter 19 is a prophecy concerning Egypt, and while there is a portion of the prophecy that is against Egypt, the conclusion of the prophecy is for Egypt.
The first fifteen verses lay out the burden that would come to Egypt:
Egypt's idols will not save them (vs 1)
Egypt has always been plagued by idolatry, as one commentator puts it "In Isaiah's day there was no other nation on earth that was so much in the grip of superstition and filthy idolatry as Egypt. Apes, cats, frogs, crocodiles, lizards - everything was venerated by them." (Bultema)
The Lord humiliated Egypt's idols during the Exodus (Exodus chapters 1-14), but that occurred prior to Isaiah, so this is in reference to a time after Isaiah.
Civil war will break out (vs 2)
Egypt's advisors will give poor counsel (vs 3a)
A harsh and fierce king will rule over them (vs 3b)
Right around 664 B. C. (the "Late Period" of Egypt) the rule of the Pharaoh's began to decline in the face of Persian aggression. The dynasty ended when a Persian invasion force under Cambyses, the son of Cyrus the Great, dethroned the last pharaoh. Egypt was broken and ruled by other kings.
Due to the unrest caused by Hosni Mubarak's overthrow, the influence of the Muslim Brotherhood, and pressure from ISIS in the Sinai Peninsula, many believe Egypt is heading for civil war.
The Nile River will dry up, and cropland will be destroyed (vs 5-7)
This event is more recent, fulfilled by the construction of the Aswan Dam. The Aswan Dam, completed in 1970, is a massive earth and rockfill structure, 3 miles long and 350 feet high. Lake Nasser, formed by the dam, is 300 miles long and 6 miles wide. The dam was intended to increase agricultural productivity by providing irrigation to fields. It has had the opposite effect.
The flooding of the Nile used to bring millions of tons of silt on to the arable land along the banks of the Nile and into the Nile Delta area where the river discharged in to the Mediterranean Sea. Today most if this is trapped in the dam at Aswan, while the Mediterranean which used to be kept at bay by the full force of the river, and the fresh silt deposits every year, is eating up the coastline around the delta.
The loss of a nutrient supply from the river has killed the sardine industry in the South East Mediterranean Sea. The stagnant waters in the Nile Delta area at the entrance to the Sea have encouraged a plague of disease-bearing snails called "bilharzia" in the irrigation canals. The dam has halted the yearly supply of silt that farmers relied upon to fertilize their crops and brick-builders used to make their bricks. The sardine industry, cotton industry and agriculture of the Nile valley have all been damaged by the damming of the water, and there have been no great advantages to offset these losses.
Egypt economy will be devastated (vs 8-10)
Egypt leaders will make foolish decisions (vs 11-15)
Since it's independance in 1922, Egypt has declined as an economy, harmed further by the so-called "Arab Spring" when Mubarak was overthrown, chaos ensued, and tourism, Egypt's one last profit enterprise, declined dramatically. Currently Egypt is ruled by the military as an "interim government" until... well we're not really sure what will transpire in Egypt's political system. The Egyptian leaders don't seem to know either!
Verses 13 -15 pretty much sum up Egypt's current state:
The princes of Zoan have become fools; the princes of Noph are deceived; they have also deluded Egypt, those who are the mainstay of its tribes. The LORD has mingled a perverse spirit in her midst; and they have caused Egypt to err in all her work, as a drunken man staggers in his vomit. Neither will there be any work for Egypt, which the head or tail, palm branch or bulrush, may do. (Isaiah 19:13-15)
But beginning with Verse 16, there is an amazing prediction of a coming change in Egypt. This will take place in six stages, each of which is introduced by the phrase "in that day." That phrase always carries us forward to the end times. Have you ever wondered why Egypt is the only Arab nation to have signed a peace treaty with Israel, putting herself in jeopardy with the rest of the Arab world as a result? Verses 16-25 give us insight...
In that day Egypt will be like women, and will be afraid and fear because of the waving of the hand of the Lord of hosts, which He waves over it. And the land of Judah will be a terror to Egypt; everyone who makes mention of it will be afraid in himself, because of the counsel of the Lord of hosts which He has determined against it. (vs 16-17)
We've seen partial fulfillment of this, as Egypt has been soundly defeated by the Israeli military in the 1949 and 1972 wars.
In that day five cities in the land of Egypt will speak the language of Canaan and swear by the Lord of hosts; one will be called the City of Destruction.(vs 18)
There will be five cities that will be the center of worship in Egypt, but not to the former idols, they will worship the true and living God! A better translation of the phrase City of Destruction may be, City of the Sun, which was a well known Egyptian city known as Heliopolis.
In that day there will be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the Lord at its border. And it will be for a sign and for a witness to the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt; for they will cry to the Lord because of the oppressors, and He will send them a Savior and a Mighty One, and He will deliver them. Then the Lord will be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will know the Lord in that day, and will make sacrifice and offering; yes, they will make a vow to the Lord and perform it. (vs 19-21)
In the Millennial Kingdom, Egypt will worship God, and there will be an alter build in Egypt.
In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian will come into Egypt and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians will serve with the Assyrians. (vs 23)
The ancient enemies of Israel will recognize Israel, and have normal relations. There will be travel and commerce along a transnational highway.
In that day Israel will be one of three with Egypt and Assyria—a blessing in the midst of the land, whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, "Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance." (vs 24-15)
There will be a brotherly alliance between these ancient enemies, centered on the worship of the Lord.
Verse 22 gives us the heart of God towards Egypt:
And the Lord will strike Egypt, He will strike and heal it; they will return to the Lord, and He will be entreated by them and heal them. (vs 22)
While God will strike nations that come against Him and His chosen people, His heart is always to heal - IF they will turn to Him. Apparently Egypt will turn to God!
From this passage regarding the conversion of Egypt, Spurgeon draws these points: - God's grace often comes to the very worst of men.
- God's grace sends a Savior.
- Grace changes men's language.
- God's grace sets men on holy service.
- God's grace teaches men to pray.
- God's grace instructs men.
- Grace makes even trouble a blessing to a man.
- God's grace changes the relations of men to each other.
- God's grace makes men to be blessed, and to be a blessing to others.
So ends the oracle concerning Egypt. A happy ending indeed!
Pastor Clay | | | | | | | |
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