Is a nation’s wealth quickly gone if God so decides? Can God humble a proud nation and lead it to repentance? Let’s begin in Isaiah 23.
Does Isaiah prophesy the destruction of the Phoenician cities of Tyre and Sidon, along the south coast of today’s Lebanon?
A message concerning Tyre. “Wail, you ships of Tarshish, for Tyre is destroyed and is without house or harbor! From the land of Cyprus [Kittim] it was revealed to them. “Be silent, you inhabitants of the coast, you merchants of Sidon, whose messengers crossed over the sea, and were on mighty waters. Her revenue was the grain of Shihor, the harvest of the Nile; and she became the marketplace of nations. (Isa 23:1-3 ISV)
Would Egypt suffer loss of trade from these two now condemned cities?
Be thou ashamed, O Zidon: for the sea hath spoken, even the strength of the sea, saying, I travail not, nor bring forth children, neither do I nourish up young men, nor bring up virgins. As at the report concerning Egypt, so shall they be sorely pained at the report of Tyre. Pass ye over to Tarshish; howl, ye inhabitants of the isle. Is this your joyous city, whose antiquity is of ancient days? her own feet shall carry her afar off to sojourn. (Isa 23:4-7 KJV)
Who is responsible for this punishment of Tyre? Tarshish is a Mediterranean power variously speculated to be headquartered in Spain, Sardinia, Tunis or southern Turkey.
Who has counseled this against Tyre, the bestower of crowns, Whose merchants were princes, whose traders were the honored of the earth? Yahweh of hosts has counseled it, to defile the pride of all beauty, To make contemptuous all the honored of the earth. Overflow your land like the Nile, O daughter of Tarshish; There is no more restraint. He has stretched His hand out over the sea; He has made the kingdoms tremble; Yahweh has given a command concerning Canaan to demolish its strong defenses. (Isa 23:8-11 LSB)
Will God destroy their strongholds like Assyria caused Babylon, the land of the Chaldeans, to exist no more?
He has said, “You shall not be jubilant anymore, you crushed virgin daughter of Sidon. Arise, pass over to Cyprus; even there you will find no rest.” Behold, the land of the Chaldeans—this is the people that did not exist; Assyria allocated it for desert creatures—they erected their siege towers, they stripped its palaces, they made it a ruin. Wail, you ships of Tarshish, For your stronghold is destroyed. (Isa 23:12-14 NASB)
Is this a prophecy of Tyre being diminished during the 70 year Babylonian era? Would her material wealth eventually be dedicated to God?
At that time Tyre will be forgotten for seventy years, the span of a king’s life. But at the end of these seventy years, it will happen to Tyre as in the song of the prostitute: “Take up a harp, walk through the city, you forgotten prostitute; play the harp well, sing many a song, so that you will be remembered.” At the end of seventy years, the Lord will deal with Tyre. She will return to her lucrative prostitution and will ply her trade with all the kingdoms on the face of the earth. Yet her profit and her earnings will be set apart for the Lord; they will not be stored up or hoarded. Her profits will go to those who live before the Lord, for abundant food and fine clothes. (Isa 23:15-18 NIV)
Is love of neighbor different from national pride? What does God do with the proud?
But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6 NKJV)
Is a nation’s wealth quickly gone if God so decides? Can God humble a proud nation and lead it to repentance? You decide!
Feast or Fast (Isaiah 22)
As Assyria threatened Jerusalem, did God install a man who saw Him as the answer, not human efforts? Do we rely on weak politics and our military or God? Let’s look at Isaiah 22.
Why is Jerusalem called the Valley of Vision? Had Mount Zion become a spiritual valley, yet even in that fallen condition, did God provide a vision, a warning? Had all Jerusalem’s leaders fled and did its citizens party while Assyrian armies threatened? Did Isaiah weep?
This message came to me concerning Jerusalem—the Valley of Vision: What is happening? Why is everyone running to the rooftops? The whole city is in a terrible uproar. What do I see in this reveling city? Bodies are lying everywhere, killed not in battle but by famine and disease. All your leaders have fled. They surrendered without resistance. The people tried to slip away, but they were captured, too. That’s why I said, “Leave me alone to weep; do not try to comfort me. Let me cry for my people as I watch them being destroyed.” (Isa 22:1-4 NLT)
Did the people of Jerusalem, while under siege turn to God, or various human solutions like diverting spring water into the city and strengthening defensive walls? Do we likewise look to weak politics and our military rather than God?
For it is a day of confusion, and of treading down, and of perplexity from the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, in the valley of vision, a breaking down of the walls, and a crying to the mountains.” Elam [east of the Tigris River] carried his quiver, with chariots of men and horsemen; and Kir [a fort in Assyria] uncovered the shield. Your choicest valleys were full of chariots, and the horsemen set themselves in array at the gate. He took away the covering of Judah; and you looked in that day to the armor in the house of the forest. You saw the breaches of David’s city, that they were many; and you gathered together the waters of the lower pool. You counted the houses of Jerusalem, and you broke down the houses to fortify the wall. You also made a reservoir between the two walls for the water of the old pool. But you didn’t look to him who had done this, neither did you have respect for him who planned it long ago. (Isa 22:5-11 WEB)
Instead of turning to God, did the citizens just party, feast instead of fast? Is there a similar attitude today?
The Lord God of heavenly forces called on that day for weeping and mourning, and shaven heads, and wearing of mourning clothes. But instead there was fun and frivolity, killing of cattle and slaughtering of sheep, eating of meat and drinking of wine: “Eat and drink! Tomorrow we will die!” But the Lord of heavenly forces has revealed in my hearing: This iniquity won’t be forgiven you until you die, says the Lord God of heavenly forces. (Isa 22:12-14 CEB)
What message did God give to the then current political leader, Shebna? Was God about to fire him?
The Lord All-Powerful is sending me with this message for Shebna, the prime minister: Shebna, what gives you the right to have a tomb carved out of rock in this burial place of royalty? None of your relatives are buried here. You may be powerful, but the Lord is about to snatch you up and throw you away. He will roll you into a ball and throw you into a wide open country, where you will die and your chariots will be destroyed. You're a disgrace to those you serve. The Lord is going to take away your job! (Isa 22:15-19 CEV)
Who did God appoint in place of Shebna, in charge of the palace after the king fled? Could this also be a prophecy of a later descendant of David?
In that day I will call my servant Eliakim [God of raising] the son of Hilkiah [my portion is Yah], and I will clothe him with your robe, and will bind your sash on him, and will commit your authority to his hand. And he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David. He shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. And I will fasten him like a peg in a secure place, and he will become a throne of honor to his father's house. And they will hang on him the whole honor of his father's house, the offspring and issue, every small vessel, from the cups to all the flagons. In that day, declares the Lord of hosts, the peg that was fastened in a secure place will give way, and it will be cut down and fall, and the load that was on it will be cut off, for the Lord has spoken.” (Isa 22:20-25 ESV)
Is someone else cited as having the key of the house of David, who opens and no one will close, and closes and no one opens? Is it Jesus or Peter?
“Write to the angel of the church in Philadelphia: “The Holy One, the True One, the One who has the key of David, who opens and no one will close, and closes and no one opens says: I know your works. Because you have limited strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name, look, I have placed before you an open door that no one is able to close. (Rev 3:7-8 HCSB)
As Assyria threatened Jerusalem, did God install a man who saw Him as the answer, not human efforts? Do we rely on weak politics and our military or God? You decide!
Why is Jerusalem called the Valley of Vision? Had Mount Zion become a spiritual valley, yet even in that fallen condition, did God provide a vision, a warning? Had all Jerusalem’s leaders fled and did its citizens party while Assyrian armies threatened? Did Isaiah weep?
This message came to me concerning Jerusalem—the Valley of Vision: What is happening? Why is everyone running to the rooftops? The whole city is in a terrible uproar. What do I see in this reveling city? Bodies are lying everywhere, killed not in battle but by famine and disease. All your leaders have fled. They surrendered without resistance. The people tried to slip away, but they were captured, too. That’s why I said, “Leave me alone to weep; do not try to comfort me. Let me cry for my people as I watch them being destroyed.” (Isa 22:1-4 NLT)
Did the people of Jerusalem, while under siege turn to God, or various human solutions like diverting spring water into the city and strengthening defensive walls? Do we likewise look to weak politics and our military rather than God?
For it is a day of confusion, and of treading down, and of perplexity from the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, in the valley of vision, a breaking down of the walls, and a crying to the mountains.” Elam [east of the Tigris River] carried his quiver, with chariots of men and horsemen; and Kir [a fort in Assyria] uncovered the shield. Your choicest valleys were full of chariots, and the horsemen set themselves in array at the gate. He took away the covering of Judah; and you looked in that day to the armor in the house of the forest. You saw the breaches of David’s city, that they were many; and you gathered together the waters of the lower pool. You counted the houses of Jerusalem, and you broke down the houses to fortify the wall. You also made a reservoir between the two walls for the water of the old pool. But you didn’t look to him who had done this, neither did you have respect for him who planned it long ago. (Isa 22:5-11 WEB)
Instead of turning to God, did the citizens just party, feast instead of fast? Is there a similar attitude today?
The Lord God of heavenly forces called on that day for weeping and mourning, and shaven heads, and wearing of mourning clothes. But instead there was fun and frivolity, killing of cattle and slaughtering of sheep, eating of meat and drinking of wine: “Eat and drink! Tomorrow we will die!” But the Lord of heavenly forces has revealed in my hearing: This iniquity won’t be forgiven you until you die, says the Lord God of heavenly forces. (Isa 22:12-14 CEB)
What message did God give to the then current political leader, Shebna? Was God about to fire him?
The Lord All-Powerful is sending me with this message for Shebna, the prime minister: Shebna, what gives you the right to have a tomb carved out of rock in this burial place of royalty? None of your relatives are buried here. You may be powerful, but the Lord is about to snatch you up and throw you away. He will roll you into a ball and throw you into a wide open country, where you will die and your chariots will be destroyed. You're a disgrace to those you serve. The Lord is going to take away your job! (Isa 22:15-19 CEV)
Who did God appoint in place of Shebna, in charge of the palace after the king fled? Could this also be a prophecy of a later descendant of David?
In that day I will call my servant Eliakim [God of raising] the son of Hilkiah [my portion is Yah], and I will clothe him with your robe, and will bind your sash on him, and will commit your authority to his hand. And he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David. He shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. And I will fasten him like a peg in a secure place, and he will become a throne of honor to his father's house. And they will hang on him the whole honor of his father's house, the offspring and issue, every small vessel, from the cups to all the flagons. In that day, declares the Lord of hosts, the peg that was fastened in a secure place will give way, and it will be cut down and fall, and the load that was on it will be cut off, for the Lord has spoken.” (Isa 22:20-25 ESV)
Is someone else cited as having the key of the house of David, who opens and no one will close, and closes and no one opens? Is it Jesus or Peter?
“Write to the angel of the church in Philadelphia: “The Holy One, the True One, the One who has the key of David, who opens and no one will close, and closes and no one opens says: I know your works. Because you have limited strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name, look, I have placed before you an open door that no one is able to close. (Rev 3:7-8 HCSB)
As Assyria threatened Jerusalem, did God install a man who saw Him as the answer, not human efforts? Do we rely on weak politics and our military or God? You decide!
Babylon Fallen (Isaiah 21)
Does the fall of ancient Babylon echo the fall of a modern Babylon? Does it affect other nations? Do we worship the splendor of Babylon or God? Let’s look at Isaiah 21.
Are commentators correct, who seem to agree that the desert of the sea refers to the waters of Babylon, a marshy, often flooded plain? Is this a prophecy regarding Persians (Elam and the Medes) from the desert who later conquered Babylon, like a whirlwind from the Negev Desert?
The oracle concerning the wilderness of the sea. As whirlwinds in the Negeb sweep on, it comes from the wilderness, from a terrible land. A stern vision is told to me; the traitor betrays, and the destroyer destroys. Go up, O Elam; lay siege, O Media; all the sighing she has caused I bring to an end. (Isa 21:1-2 ESV)
Is Isaiah terrified as he realizes that God has given him a prophecy of Babylon’s destruction?
Therefore I am filled with anguish. Pain grips me, like the pain of a woman in labor. I am too perplexed to hear, too dismayed to see. My heart staggers; horror terrifies me. He has turned my last glimmer of hope into sheer terror. Prepare a table, and spread out a carpet! Eat and drink! Rise up, you princes, and oil the shields! (Isa 21:3-5 HCSB)
What did God tell Isaiah? What was the lookout to do?
For this is what the Lord told me: “Go post a lookout. Have him report what he sees. When he sees chariots, each man with a pair of horses, riders on donkeys or riders on camels, let him pay attention, full attention.” (Isa 21:6-7 ISV)
What was this all about? Who did Isaiah finally say was fallen?
And he cried, A lion: My lord, I stand continually upon the watchtower in the daytime, and I am set in my ward whole nights: And, behold, here cometh a chariot of men, with a couple of horsemen. And he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images of her gods he hath broken unto the ground. O my threshing, and the corn of my floor: that which I have heard of the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, have I declared unto you. (Isa 21:8-10 KJV)
Does this affect the nations around Israel like Edom and their mountains?
The oracle concerning Dumah [Idumea, Edom, south of the Dead Sea]. One keeps calling to me from Seir [the mountains of Edom], “Watchman, how far gone is the night? Watchman, how far gone is the night?” The watchman says, “Morning comes but also night. If you would inquire, inquire; Come back again.” (Isa 21:11-12 LSB)
Does this also affect other nations around Israel like Arabia?
The pronouncement about Arabia: In the thickets of Arabia you must spend the night, You caravans of Dedanites [descendants of Abraham via Keturah]. Bring water for the thirsty, You inhabitants of the land of Tema [one of the twelve sons of Ishmael]; Meet the fugitive with bread. For they have fled from the swords, From the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, And from the press of battle. (Isa 21:13-15 NASB)
Does this prophecy also affect other peoples around Israel like the Bedouins?
This is what the Lord says to me: “Within one year, as a servant bound by contract would count it, all the splendor of Kedar [the second son of Ishmael, bedouins] will come to an end. The survivors of the archers, the warriors of Kedar, will be few.” The Lord, the God of Israel, has spoken. (Isa 21:16-17 NIV)
Does this ancient prophecy foreshadow the fall of an apocalyptic Babylon?
And another angel followed, saying, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.” (Rev 14:8 NKJV)
Does the fall of ancient Babylon echo the fall of a modern Babylon? Does it affect other nations? Do we worship the splendor of Babylon or God? You decide!
Are commentators correct, who seem to agree that the desert of the sea refers to the waters of Babylon, a marshy, often flooded plain? Is this a prophecy regarding Persians (Elam and the Medes) from the desert who later conquered Babylon, like a whirlwind from the Negev Desert?
The oracle concerning the wilderness of the sea. As whirlwinds in the Negeb sweep on, it comes from the wilderness, from a terrible land. A stern vision is told to me; the traitor betrays, and the destroyer destroys. Go up, O Elam; lay siege, O Media; all the sighing she has caused I bring to an end. (Isa 21:1-2 ESV)
Is Isaiah terrified as he realizes that God has given him a prophecy of Babylon’s destruction?
Therefore I am filled with anguish. Pain grips me, like the pain of a woman in labor. I am too perplexed to hear, too dismayed to see. My heart staggers; horror terrifies me. He has turned my last glimmer of hope into sheer terror. Prepare a table, and spread out a carpet! Eat and drink! Rise up, you princes, and oil the shields! (Isa 21:3-5 HCSB)
What did God tell Isaiah? What was the lookout to do?
For this is what the Lord told me: “Go post a lookout. Have him report what he sees. When he sees chariots, each man with a pair of horses, riders on donkeys or riders on camels, let him pay attention, full attention.” (Isa 21:6-7 ISV)
What was this all about? Who did Isaiah finally say was fallen?
And he cried, A lion: My lord, I stand continually upon the watchtower in the daytime, and I am set in my ward whole nights: And, behold, here cometh a chariot of men, with a couple of horsemen. And he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images of her gods he hath broken unto the ground. O my threshing, and the corn of my floor: that which I have heard of the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, have I declared unto you. (Isa 21:8-10 KJV)
Does this affect the nations around Israel like Edom and their mountains?
The oracle concerning Dumah [Idumea, Edom, south of the Dead Sea]. One keeps calling to me from Seir [the mountains of Edom], “Watchman, how far gone is the night? Watchman, how far gone is the night?” The watchman says, “Morning comes but also night. If you would inquire, inquire; Come back again.” (Isa 21:11-12 LSB)
Does this also affect other nations around Israel like Arabia?
The pronouncement about Arabia: In the thickets of Arabia you must spend the night, You caravans of Dedanites [descendants of Abraham via Keturah]. Bring water for the thirsty, You inhabitants of the land of Tema [one of the twelve sons of Ishmael]; Meet the fugitive with bread. For they have fled from the swords, From the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, And from the press of battle. (Isa 21:13-15 NASB)
Does this prophecy also affect other peoples around Israel like the Bedouins?
This is what the Lord says to me: “Within one year, as a servant bound by contract would count it, all the splendor of Kedar [the second son of Ishmael, bedouins] will come to an end. The survivors of the archers, the warriors of Kedar, will be few.” The Lord, the God of Israel, has spoken. (Isa 21:16-17 NIV)
Does this ancient prophecy foreshadow the fall of an apocalyptic Babylon?
And another angel followed, saying, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.” (Rev 14:8 NKJV)
Does the fall of ancient Babylon echo the fall of a modern Babylon? Does it affect other nations? Do we worship the splendor of Babylon or God? You decide!
Egypt & Cush (Isaiah 20)
Does this prophecy of Egypt and Cush affirm the foolishness of trusting in alliances instead of God? Did Christianity spread further than the Coptic Christianity of Egypt and Sudan, and the Orthodox Christianity of Ethiopia, south of the Sahara and across Africa? Let’s look at Isaiah 20.
Did God tell Isaiah to walk around barefoot, stripped to his loin cloth?
In the year when King Sargon of Assyria sent his commander in chief to capture the Philistine city of Ashdod, the Lord told Isaiah son of Amoz, “Take off the burlap you have been wearing, and remove your sandals.” Isaiah did as he was told and walked around naked and barefoot. (Isa 20:1-2 NLT)
Was Isaiah’s nakedness a sign to the people of Egypt, Sudan and northern Ethiopia? Is there a modern application?
Yahweh said, “As my servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and a wonder concerning Egypt and concerning Ethiopia [Cush], so the king of Assyria will lead away the captives of Egypt and the exiles of Ethiopia, young and old, naked and barefoot, and with buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt. (Isa 20:3-4 WEB)
Who can save Egypt, Cush or Judah on the coast from Assyria, only God?
They will be shattered and shamed because of Cush their hope, and because of Egypt their glory. “On that day, those who live on this coast will say, ‘Look at those in whom we had hoped, to whom we fled for help and rescue from the king of Assyria. How then will we escape?’” (Isa 20:5-6 CEB)
Who was the first from that region to believe in Jesus and be baptized?
An important Ethiopian official happened to be going along that road in his chariot. He was the chief treasurer for Candace, the Queen of Ethiopia. … Then they both went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. After they had come out of the water, the Lord's Spirit took Philip away. The official never saw him again, but he was very happy as he went on his way. (Acts 8:27b, 38b-39 CEV)
Does this prophecy of Egypt and Cush affirm the foolishness of trusting in alliances instead of God? Did Christianity spread further than the Coptic Christianity of Egypt and Sudan, and the Orthodox Christianity of Ethiopia, south of the Sahara and across Africa? You decide!
Did God tell Isaiah to walk around barefoot, stripped to his loin cloth?
In the year when King Sargon of Assyria sent his commander in chief to capture the Philistine city of Ashdod, the Lord told Isaiah son of Amoz, “Take off the burlap you have been wearing, and remove your sandals.” Isaiah did as he was told and walked around naked and barefoot. (Isa 20:1-2 NLT)
Was Isaiah’s nakedness a sign to the people of Egypt, Sudan and northern Ethiopia? Is there a modern application?
Yahweh said, “As my servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and a wonder concerning Egypt and concerning Ethiopia [Cush], so the king of Assyria will lead away the captives of Egypt and the exiles of Ethiopia, young and old, naked and barefoot, and with buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt. (Isa 20:3-4 WEB)
Who can save Egypt, Cush or Judah on the coast from Assyria, only God?
They will be shattered and shamed because of Cush their hope, and because of Egypt their glory. “On that day, those who live on this coast will say, ‘Look at those in whom we had hoped, to whom we fled for help and rescue from the king of Assyria. How then will we escape?’” (Isa 20:5-6 CEB)
Who was the first from that region to believe in Jesus and be baptized?
An important Ethiopian official happened to be going along that road in his chariot. He was the chief treasurer for Candace, the Queen of Ethiopia. … Then they both went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. After they had come out of the water, the Lord's Spirit took Philip away. The official never saw him again, but he was very happy as he went on his way. (Acts 8:27b, 38b-39 CEV)
Does this prophecy of Egypt and Cush affirm the foolishness of trusting in alliances instead of God? Did Christianity spread further than the Coptic Christianity of Egypt and Sudan, and the Orthodox Christianity of Ethiopia, south of the Sahara and across Africa? You decide!
Egypt (Isaiah 19)
Can historic enemies turn to the Lord and reconcile? Is this part of God’s ultimate plan? Let’s begin in Isaiah 19.
Will Egypt become confounded by civil war and a harsh dictatorship?
An oracle [burden, prophecy] concerning Egypt. Behold, the Lord is riding on a swift cloud and comes to Egypt; and the idols of Egypt will tremble at his presence, and the heart of the Egyptians will melt within them. And I will stir up Egyptians against Egyptians, and they will fight, each against another and each against his neighbor, city against city, kingdom against kingdom; and the spirit of the Egyptians within them will be emptied out, and I will confound their counsel; and they will inquire of the idols and the sorcerers, and the mediums and the necromancers; and I will give over the Egyptians into the hand of a hard master, and a fierce king will rule over them, declares the Lord God of hosts. (Isa 19:1-4 ESV)
Will Egypt’s national dependence on the river for crops and fishing be severely tested?
The waters of the sea will dry up, and the river will be parched and dry. The channels will stink; they will dwindle, and Egypt’s canals will be parched. Reed and rush will die. The reeds by the Nile, by the mouth of the river, and all the cultivated areas of the Nile will wither, blow away, and vanish. Then the fishermen will mourn. All those who cast hooks into the Nile will lament, and those who spread nets on the water will shrivel up. Those who work with flax will be dismayed; the combers and weavers will turn pale. Egypt’s weavers will be dejected; all her wage earners will be demoralized. (Isa 19:5-10 HCSB)
Did Zoan, the ancient Egyptian capital city on the Nile delta, contain foolish leaders? Did other national leaders in Memphis, an administrative and religious hub, also lead Egypt astray?
Zoan’s princes are nothing but fools; the wisest advisors of Pharaoh give stupid advice. How can you say to Pharaoh, “I’m a descendant of wise men, a descendant of ancient kings”? Where are your wise men now? Let them tell you, let them make known what the Lord has planned against Egypt. The princes of Zoan have become fools, and the princes of Memphis deluded; the leaders of its tribes have led Egypt astray. The Lord has mixed within them a spirit of confusion; so they make Egypt stagger in all that it does, like a drunkard staggers around in his vomit. As a result, there will be nothing for Egypt that head or tail, palm branch or reed, can do. (Isa 19:11-15 ISV)
Does Egypt become fearful, afraid when anyone even mentions the land of Judah?
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. And the land of Judah shall be a terror unto Egypt, every one that maketh mention thereof shall be afraid in himself, because of the counsel of the Lord of hosts, which he hath determined against it. (Isa 19:16-17 KJV)
How can God smiting a nation lead to its healing? Do some Egyptian cities adopt the language of Canaan and worship the Lord?
In that day five cities in the land of Egypt will be speaking the language of Canaan and swearing allegiance to Yahweh of hosts; one will be called the City of Destruction. In that day there will be an altar to Yahweh in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to Yahweh near its border. And it will become a sign and a witness to Yahweh of hosts in the land of Egypt; for they will cry to Yahweh because of oppressors, and He will send them a Savior and a Champion, and He will deliver them. Thus Yahweh will make Himself known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will know Yahweh in that day. They will even worship with sacrifice and offering, and they will make a vow to Yahweh and pay it. And Yahweh will smite Egypt, smiting but healing; so they will return to Yahweh, and He will be moved by their entreaty and will heal them. (Isa 19:18-22 LSB)
At that time will Egypt, Assyria and Israel all worship the Lord together?
On that day there will be a road from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrians will come into Egypt and the Egyptians into Assyria; and the Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians. On that day Israel will be the third party to Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth, whom the Lord of armies has blessed, saying, “Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance.” (Isa 19:23-25 NASB)
Does God’s purpose ultimately include peace and unity between Jew and Gentile?
For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility (Eph 2:14 NIV)
Can historic enemies turn to the Lord and reconcile? Is this part of God’s ultimate plan? You decide!
Will Egypt become confounded by civil war and a harsh dictatorship?
An oracle [burden, prophecy] concerning Egypt. Behold, the Lord is riding on a swift cloud and comes to Egypt; and the idols of Egypt will tremble at his presence, and the heart of the Egyptians will melt within them. And I will stir up Egyptians against Egyptians, and they will fight, each against another and each against his neighbor, city against city, kingdom against kingdom; and the spirit of the Egyptians within them will be emptied out, and I will confound their counsel; and they will inquire of the idols and the sorcerers, and the mediums and the necromancers; and I will give over the Egyptians into the hand of a hard master, and a fierce king will rule over them, declares the Lord God of hosts. (Isa 19:1-4 ESV)
Will Egypt’s national dependence on the river for crops and fishing be severely tested?
The waters of the sea will dry up, and the river will be parched and dry. The channels will stink; they will dwindle, and Egypt’s canals will be parched. Reed and rush will die. The reeds by the Nile, by the mouth of the river, and all the cultivated areas of the Nile will wither, blow away, and vanish. Then the fishermen will mourn. All those who cast hooks into the Nile will lament, and those who spread nets on the water will shrivel up. Those who work with flax will be dismayed; the combers and weavers will turn pale. Egypt’s weavers will be dejected; all her wage earners will be demoralized. (Isa 19:5-10 HCSB)
Did Zoan, the ancient Egyptian capital city on the Nile delta, contain foolish leaders? Did other national leaders in Memphis, an administrative and religious hub, also lead Egypt astray?
Zoan’s princes are nothing but fools; the wisest advisors of Pharaoh give stupid advice. How can you say to Pharaoh, “I’m a descendant of wise men, a descendant of ancient kings”? Where are your wise men now? Let them tell you, let them make known what the Lord has planned against Egypt. The princes of Zoan have become fools, and the princes of Memphis deluded; the leaders of its tribes have led Egypt astray. The Lord has mixed within them a spirit of confusion; so they make Egypt stagger in all that it does, like a drunkard staggers around in his vomit. As a result, there will be nothing for Egypt that head or tail, palm branch or reed, can do. (Isa 19:11-15 ISV)
Does Egypt become fearful, afraid when anyone even mentions the land of Judah?
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. And the land of Judah shall be a terror unto Egypt, every one that maketh mention thereof shall be afraid in himself, because of the counsel of the Lord of hosts, which he hath determined against it. (Isa 19:16-17 KJV)
How can God smiting a nation lead to its healing? Do some Egyptian cities adopt the language of Canaan and worship the Lord?
In that day five cities in the land of Egypt will be speaking the language of Canaan and swearing allegiance to Yahweh of hosts; one will be called the City of Destruction. In that day there will be an altar to Yahweh in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to Yahweh near its border. And it will become a sign and a witness to Yahweh of hosts in the land of Egypt; for they will cry to Yahweh because of oppressors, and He will send them a Savior and a Champion, and He will deliver them. Thus Yahweh will make Himself known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will know Yahweh in that day. They will even worship with sacrifice and offering, and they will make a vow to Yahweh and pay it. And Yahweh will smite Egypt, smiting but healing; so they will return to Yahweh, and He will be moved by their entreaty and will heal them. (Isa 19:18-22 LSB)
At that time will Egypt, Assyria and Israel all worship the Lord together?
On that day there will be a road from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrians will come into Egypt and the Egyptians into Assyria; and the Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians. On that day Israel will be the third party to Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth, whom the Lord of armies has blessed, saying, “Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance.” (Isa 19:23-25 NASB)
Does God’s purpose ultimately include peace and unity between Jew and Gentile?
For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility (Eph 2:14 NIV)
Can historic enemies turn to the Lord and reconcile? Is this part of God’s ultimate plan? You decide!
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