March 17 - Egypt

March 17 - Egypt - Isaiah 19:1-20:6

You know, just about the time I weary of these prophecies, God allows me to see amazing things within them ... so, I'm reminded night after night that His Word is alive!

Isaiah prophesied that God's judgment against Egypt was coming (Isaiah 19:1-15; 20:1-6). The 42 provinces would fight among themselves, though the Egyptian wise men were known throughout the region, they would have no idea what to do. In 670 bc, Esar-haddon, King of Assyrian conquered Egypt, there was nothing that any of their Gods could do to save the country.

God wants the people of Judah to hear over and over again that if He wills a thing to happen, it's going to happen and that only by trusting in Him and none of the leaders of their country or personal idols or wise counselors or officials will be able to stop Him. And when the time of destruction comes, only God can rescue a people.

"In that day ..." Isaiah uses this phrase several times in the next verses and the prophecy has changed to the far future. (Isaiah 19:16-25) When Jesus returns and brings the Messianic Kingdom to bear, there will be many changes. Egypt will fear Israel (Isaiah 19:16-17), Egypt will then become converted to the one true God. (Isaiah 19:18-22)

These spiritual changes will bring political changes. Egypt, Assyria AND Israel will worship together. Not only will these countries be changed by the Lord, but they will become a blessing to the entire earth.

Can you see what God is promising here? The nations of the earth will be blessed by the unification of groups that have despised each other for millennia. But never forget who is actually doing all of this. No amount of political wrangling or Christian good intentions can force this day to come. Only God will bring this to pass and it will happen in His time.

Isaiah 20:1-6 is inserted here by Isaiah to remind his people of the prophecies that God has laid out for Cush and for Egypt. The people of Judah considered aligning themselves with Egypt so that they could hold Assyria off. Isaiah 20:5 says "Those who trusted in Cush and boasted in Egypt will be afraid and put to shame." Why? Because God wants His people to rely on Him. He will protect them and He will care for them.

The biggest lesson we can learn is that when we try to do this alone, we limit ourselves. And when we try to force God's hand, we will fail. What can we do? Pray.

Martin Luther wrote a letter to his wife and he ended it with, "Pray. And let God worry."