Read Isaiah 15 – 21
Highlights:
God warned, 'you'll be sorry if you mess with My children' (Gen. 12:3)! Learn a lesson. His judgements and why against Moab are in Isaiah 15 – 16; Damascus chap. 17; Ethiopa chap. 18; Egypt chap. 19 – 20; Babylon, Edom, Arabia chap. 21; God threshes and winnows our lives to remove the chaff and draw us closer to Him (21:10).
The burden of Egypt. 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. And I 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 (Isa. 19:1-2).
At one time, Egypt was a great world power. The armies of the pharaohs had been feared and respected all over the world. They were not only a military power, but they had commercial success as well.
The Egyptians had not always been at odds with the ways of God. There had been a time when Joseph, who was anointed of God, had been the top adviser to the ruler of the nation. The children of Israel had even been given supplies and good lands during a long famine.
However, that was a long time ago, and in the years that followed a new pharaoh had come to power. He had feared that one day God's people would become a great nation. As a result of his fear, the children of Israel had been enslaved to the Egyptians.
God then raised up Moses to be a deliverer for His people. During God's people's exodus of Egypt, the armies of Egypt were all but destroyed by God in the Red Sea. This brought the great world power to its knees for many years.
Over her long history, Egypt was visited by many great men of God. Abraham, Joseph and Moses had, at one time or another, all spoken before Egypt's leaders. The Egyptian leaders recognized that the God of these men was the only true God. At times, they even showed respect towards God. However, it never lasted. If only Egypt had heeded godly counsel, the nation could have become followers of God. Instead, they chose to seek after worldly things rather than godly things. And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you (Luke 12:29-31).
Egypt had a deep history in the Word of God. Though at times she was an ally of God's, most often she was an enemy of God's people. She was brought down and rebuilt, only to be brought down again. Egypt had many opportunities to turn to God, but chose not to. Then one day, all those opportunities were gone. Ancient Egypt stands as an example for us, reinforcing God's statement, My spirit shall not always strive with man (Gen. 6:3).
Turn to Jesus while the opportunity is there. If we turn away too many times, our chances may very well run out.
Paul declared, behold now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation (2 Cor. 6:2).
Thought for Today:
Does your heart cry out like Isaiah's for sinners who are God's enemies?
Christ Revealed:
As the One who will sit on the throne of David (Is. 16:5). The angel Gabriel told the virgin Mary that the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David (Luke 1:32-33). Christ also is revealed as the Saviour (Is. 19:20; comp. Matt. 1:21; Luke 2:11).
Word Studies:
16:3 bewray, betray; 16:11 my bowels, my inner being, heart; 17:11 a heap, a failure; 19:8 angle, hooks; 21:14 prevented with their bread him that fled, gave food and water to the fugitives.
Prayer Suggestion: Pray for a greater desire to serve the Lord (Ps. 42:1-2).
Optional Reading: Hebrews 12
Memory Verse for the Week: Psalms 89:1
