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<h2><span><a onclick="return mV('Isa',19,'1-');">Isa 19</a> - The Burden Against Egypt</span></h2>
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<p><span>A. God strikes Egypt.</span></p>
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<p class="c1"><span>1. (<a onclick="return mV('Isa',19,'1-4');">1-4</a>) The <span class="c6">Lord</span> strikes Egypt by giving them over to civil war and submission to a cruel master.</span></p>
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<p class="c2"><span>The burden against Egypt. Behold, the <span class="c6">Lord</span> rides on a swift cloud, and will come into Egypt; the idols of Egypt will totter at His presence, and the heart of Egypt will melt in its midst. “I will set Egyptians against Egyptians; everyone will fight against his brother, and everyone against his neighbor, city against city, kingdom against kingdom. The spirit of Egypt will fail in its midst; I will destroy their counsel, and they will consult the idols and the charmers, the mediums and the sorcerers. And the Egyptians I will give into the hand of a cruel master, and a fierce king will rule over them,” says the Lord, the <span class="c6">Lord</span> of hosts.</span></p>
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<p class="c4"><span>a. <b><span class="c3">The <span class="c6">Lord</span> rides on a swift cloud, and will come into Egypt</span></b></span>: Egypt was one of the great powers of the ancient world, and being situated immediately to the south of Israel, it was an empire that Israel constantly had to reckon with. Many times Egypt had been the enemy of Israel, at times Egypt had been a refuge for Israel, and sometimes Egypt offered a tempting but ungodly alliance to Israel. In this chapter, the <span class="c6">Lord</span> presents both a prophecy <i>against</i> and <i>for</i> Egypt.</p>
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<p class="c4">b. <b><span class="c3">The idols of Egypt will totter at His presence</span></b>: Egypt was known for its worship of many, many different gods. Through His hand of judgment, the <span class="c6">Lord</span> will “knock over” these many different gods.</p>
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<p class="c5">i. “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)</p>
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<p class="c5">ii. At the time of the Exodus, when the Pharaoh of Egypt would not release the children of Israel from their captivity, the <span class="c6">Lord</span> also made <b><span class="c3">the idols of Egypt</span></b> to <b><span class="c3">totter at His presence</span></b>. He directed each of the plagues against a particular idol of Egypt. He knocked over the god <i>Khnum</i>, the guardian of the Nile, the god <i>Hapi</i>, the spirit of the Nile, and the god <i>Osiris</i> (who had the Nile as his bloodstream), when the waters were turned to blood. He knocked over the goddess <i>Heqt</i>, the frog-goddess of fertility, with the plague of frogs. He knocked over the goddess <i>Hathor</i>, a cow-like mother goddess, with the plague on livestock. He knocked over the god <i>Imhotep</i>, the god of medicine, with the plague of boils. He knocked over the god <i>Nut</i>, the sky goddess, with the plague of hail. He knocked over the whole system of Egyptian worship of their gods with loathsome lice and swarms of insects. He knocked over the god <i>Seth</i>, thought to be the protector of crops, with the plague of locusts. He knocked over the god <i>Ra</i>, thought to be the sun god, with the plague of darkness. He knocked over <i>Osiris</i>, the Egyptian god thought to be the giver of life, and the supposed deity of Pharaoh himself, with the plague against the firstborn. God made all <b><span class="c3">the idols of Egypt</span></b> to <b><span class="c3">totter at His presence</span></b> before, and Isaiah tells us He will do it again!</p>
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<p class="c4">c. <b><span class="c3">I will set Egyptians against Egyptians</span></b>: Isaiah prophesies a coming civil war in Egypt, which was indirectly the hand of God’s judgment against them. “Not many years after this time it was divided into twelve several kingdoms, between whom there were many and cruel wars, as is related by the historians of those times.” (Poole)</p>
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<p class="c4">d. <b><span class="c3">I will destroy their counsel, and they will consult the idols and the charmers</span></b>: When a nation is under the judgment of God, He often seems to “remove” sound <b><span class="c3">counsel</span></b> and wisdom from their leaders, and they turn to vain, pagan things for wisdom instead (<b><span class="c3">idols and the charmers</span></b>).</p>
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<p class="c5">i. “Egypt was renowned for her class of wise men (<a onclick="return mV('1Ki',4,30);">1Ki 4:30</a>), but they would not be able to cope with this judgment from the Lord.” (Wolf)</p>
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<p class="c4">e. <b><span class="c3">The Egyptians I will give into the hand of a cruel master, and a fierce king will rule over them</span></b>: God may judge a nation through their leadership in two ways. First, by removing competent leadership (<b><span class="c3">I will destroy their counsel</span></b>). Second, by giving them <b><span class="c3">cruel</span></b> and oppressive rulers. This is a curse and a judgment to any people!</p>
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<p class="c1"><span>2. (<a onclick="return mV('Isa',19,'5-10');">5-10</a>) The <span class="c6">Lord</span> strikes Egypt by drying up the Nile, thus wrecking their economy.</span></p>
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<p class="c2"><span>The waters will fail from the sea, and the river will be wasted and dried up. The rivers will turn foul; the brooks of defense will be emptied and dried up; the reeds and rushes will wither. The papyrus reeds by the River, by the mouth of the River, and everything sown by the River, will wither, be driven away, and be no more. The fishermen also will mourn; all those will lament who cast hooks into the River, and they will languish who spread nets on the waters. Moreover those who work in fine flax and those who weave fine fabric will be ashamed; and its foundations will be broken. All who make wages <i>will be </i>troubled of soul.</span></p>
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<p class="c4"><span>a. <b><span class="c3">The river will be wasted and dried up</span></b></span>: The Nile River was the key to Egypt’s agriculture and economy. For it to suffer a severe drought or lowering would have a devastating effect on the lives of Egyptians. God promises this will happen as a judgment against Egypt.</p>
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<p class="c4">b. Therefore, the workers cry out: <b><span class="c3">the fishermen also will mourn . . . they will languish who spread nets on the waters . . . those who weave fine fabric will be ashamed . . . all who make wages will be troubled of soul</span></b>.</p>
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<p class="c1"><span>3. (<a onclick="return mV('Isa',19,'11-15');">11-15</a>) The <span class="c6">Lord</span> strikes Egypt by sending them with foolish counsel.</span></p>
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<p class="c2"><span>Surely the princes of Zoan <i>are </i>fools; Pharaoh’s wise counselors give foolish counsel. How do you say to Pharaoh, “I <i>am </i>the son of the wise, the son of ancient kings?” Where <i>are </i>they? Where are your wise men? Let them tell you now, and let them know what the <span class="c6">Lord</span> of hosts has purposed against Egypt. The princes of Zoan have become fools; the princes of Noph are deceived; they have also deluded Egypt, th<i>ose who are </i>the mainstay of its tribes. The <span class="c6">Lord</span> 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 <i>any </i>work for Egypt, which the head or tail, palm branch or bulrush, may do.</span></p>
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<p class="c4"><span>a. <b><span class="c3">Surely the princes of Zoan are fools; Pharaoh’s wise counselors give foolish counsel</span></b></span>: As the <span class="c6">Lord</span> strikes Egypt, not only does He give them cruel rulers, but He also gives those cruel rulers <b><span class="c3">foolish counsel</span></b>.</p>
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<p class="c4">b. <b><span class="c3">Where are your wise men? Let them tell you now, and let them know what the <span class="c6">Lord</span> of hosts has purposed against Egypt</span></b>: Here, the <span class="c6">Lord</span> reminds us of what true wisdom is. It is knowing <b><span class="c3">what the <span class="c6">Lord</span> of hosts has purposed</span></b>. True wisdom isn’t knowing all kind of facts and plans and strategies. <i>The fear of the <span class="c6">Lord</span> is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.</i> (<a onclick="return mV('Pro',9,10);">Pro 9:10</a>).</p>
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<p class="c1"><span>4. (<a onclick="return mV('Isa',19,'16-17');">16-17</a>) When God strikes Egypt, there will be terror among the people.</span></p>
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<p class="c2"><span>In that day Egypt will be like women, and will be afraid and fear because of the waving of the hand of the <span class="c6">Lord</span> 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 <span class="c6">Lord</span> of hosts which He has determined against it.</span></p>
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<p class="c4"><span>a. <b><span class="c3">Because of the waving of the hand of the <span class="c6">Lord</span> of hosts</span></b></span>: All the <span class="c6">Lord</span> will need to do is to wave His hand, and the people of Egypt will respond in terror, they will <b><span class="c3">be afraid and fear</span></b>.</p>
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<p class="c4">b. <b><span class="c3">The land of Judah will be a terror to Egypt</span></b>: This is a switch! For thousands of years, the <b><span class="c3">land of Judah</span></b> lay submissively in the shadow of the great Egyptian Empire. The <span class="c6">Lord</span> prophesies a day when Judah will be more mighty than Egypt, and <b><span class="c3">the land of Judah will be a terror to Egypt</span></b>. Of course, this is fulfilled today, when Israel has military superiority over Egypt.</p>
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<p><span>B. God saves Egypt</span></p>
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<p class="c1"><span>1. (<a onclick="return mV('Isa',19,'18-22');">18-22</a>) Egypt turns to the <span class="c6">Lord</span>.</span></p>
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<p class="c2"><span>In that day five cities in the land of Egypt will speak the language of Canaan and swear by the <span class="c6">Lord</span> of hosts; one will be called the City of Destruction. In that day there will be an altar to the <span class="c6">Lord</span> in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the <span class="c6">Lord</span> at its border. And it will be for a sign and for a witness to the <span class="c6">Lord</span> of hosts in the land of Egypt; for they will cry to the <span class="c6">Lord</span> because of the oppressors, and He will send them a Savior and a Mighty One, and He will deliver them. Then the <span class="c6">Lord</span> will be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will know the <span class="c6">Lord</span> in that day, and will make sacrifice and offering; yes, they will make a vow to the <span class="c6">Lord</span> and perform <i>it.</i></span> <span>And the <span class="c6">Lord</span> will strike Egypt, He will strike and heal <i>it; </i>they will return to the <span class="c6">Lord</span>, and He will be entreated by them and heal them.</span></p>
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<p class="c4"><span>a. <b><span class="c3">Five cities in the land of Egypt</span></b></span> will become more identified with the <span class="c6">Lord</span> than with Egypt. A better translation of the phrase <b><span class="c3">City of Destruction</span></b> may be, <i>City of the Sun</i>, which was a well known Egyptian city known as <i>Heliopolis</i>.</p>
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<p class="c4">b. Egypt will worship the <span class="c6">Lord</span>, with <b><span class="c3">an altar to the <span class="c6">Lord</span></span></b>, and will memorialize God’s great works with <b><span class="c3">a pillar to the <span class="c6">Lord</span></span></b>. When Egypt is brought under this oppression, they will <b><span class="c3">cry to the <span class="c6">Lord</span> because of the oppressors</span></b>, and then <b><span class="c3">He will send them a Savior and a Mighty one, and He will deliver them</span></b>.</p>
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<p class="c5">i. “In the time of the Maccabees, the high priest Onias IV was forced to flee to Egypt, and there he built a temple that was similar to the one in Jerusalem. Some commentators relate the ‘altar’ of verse 19 to this structure.” (Wolf) This may relate to the <i>City of the Sun</i> prophecy, because the temple Onias IV built was in the province of Heliopolis.</p>
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<p class="c5">ii. <b><span class="c3">He will send them a Savior and a Mighty One</span></b>: “<span>The text says the Savior is a great one. Oh! I wanted a great Savior. A little Savior would not have answered my turn, for great sin wanted a great atonement, and my hard heart wanted great grace to soften it down.” (Spurgeon)</span></p>
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<p class="c4">c. <b><span class="c3">The Egyptians will know the <span class="c6">Lord</span> in that day</span></b>: There did come to be a widespread knowledge of the <span class="c6">Lord</span> in Egypt. In the days of Jesus, more than a million Jews lived in Egypt. In the early days of Christianity, there was a strong, vital church in Egypt for more than 600 years.</p>
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<p class="c5">i. This prophecy may have additional fulfillment during the Millennium, but it certainly has been fulfilled in history. In the fourth century, the great theologian Athanasius, wrote this from Egypt: “The thing is happening before our very eyes, here in Egypt; and thereby another prophecy is fulfilled, for at no other time have the Egyptians ceased from their false worship save when the Lord of all, riding as on a cloud, came down here in the body and brought the error of idols to nothing and won over everybody to Himself and through Himself to the Father.” (From <i>On the Incarnation</i>, cited by Grogan)</p>
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<p class="c5">ii. The altar and sacrifice described most likely are fulfilled during the Millennium, when sacrifice will be allowed as a memorial of Jesus’ great work, but never as atonement. “For just as restored Israel will bring blood sacrifices unto the Lord to keep in remembrance of the all-sufficient blood sacrifice of Christ, so this may also take place in Egypt on that memorable day.” (Bultema)</p>
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<p class="c4"><span>d. <b><span class="c3">He will strike and heal it</span></b></span>: Whatever judgment God allowed, His desire was that people would repent and return to Him so they could be healed.</p>
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<p class="c1"><span>2. (<a onclick="return mV('Isa',19,'23-25');">23-25</a>) An amazing peace between three formerly hostile enemies.</span></p>
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<p class="c2"><span>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. In that day Israel will be one of three with Egypt and Assyria; a blessing in the midst of the land, whom the <span class="c6">Lord</span> of hosts shall bless, saying, “Blessed <i>is </i>Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance.”</span></p>
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<p class="c4"><span>a. <b><span class="c3">Israel will be one of three with Egypt and Assyria</span></b></span>: God promises the day will come when there will be peace between Israel, Egypt, and Assyria. There will be trade and travel between the three nations (<b><span class="c3">a highway from Egypt to Assyria</span></b>). In that day, the <span class="c6">Lord</span> will bless all three nations.</p>
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<p class="c4">b. <b><span class="c3">Blessed is Egypt, My people, and Assyria, the work of My hands, and Israel is My inheritance</span></b>: What an amazing work of redemption! This shows that God’s salvation will extend to the nations, and He will call forth His own even from <b><span class="c3">Egypt</span></b> and <b><span class="c3">Assyria</span></b>, not only from <b><span class="c3">Israel</span></b>.</p>
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<p class="c5">i. It was powerful to say this of Egypt; it was almost unbelievable to say it about Assyria, the nation Jonah hated so much. “In Isaiah’s day, Assyria was the one power feared by every little nation in the Fertile Crescent. The calculated brutality of the Assyrians probably made them more of an object of general hatred than any other nation of antiquity. The Egyptians, Babylonians, and Persians were all capable of inhuman acts, but the Assyrian record for callous cruelty is difficult to parallel.” (Grogan)</p>
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<p class="c5">ii. “Who, standing amid the terrors of the plagues, could ever have supposed that Egypt would be addressed as ‘my people’? Who could have thought that Assyria, the tyrant persecutor, would ever be called ‘the work of my hands’? Yet these are the trophies and triumphs of divine grace.” (Meyer)</p>
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<p class="c5">iii. “But Israel is always his inheritance. There he finds rest and home, for the Lord’s portion is his people. Oh to know the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints!” (Meyer) We are also the Lord’s inheritance; in <a onclick="return mV('Eph',1,18);">Eph 1:18</a>, Paul prayed <i>that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints</i>. God’s people are <i>His</i> riches and inheritance and glory!</p>
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<p class="c4">c. <span>From this passage regarding the conversion of Egypt, Spurgeon draws these points: 1. God’s grace often comes to the very worst of men. 2. God’s grace sends a Savior. 3. Grace changes men’s language. 4. God’s grace sets men on holy service. 5. God’s grace teaches men to pray. 6. God’s grace instructs men. 7. Grace makes even trouble a blessing to a man. 8. God’s grace changes the relations of men to each other. 9. God’s grace makes men to be blessed, and to be a blessing to others. (<i>The Fruits of Grace</i></span>)</p>
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