Ethiopia and Egypt

ISAIAH CHAPTERS 18 & 19

CHAPTER 18
Isaiah prophesied that destruction would come to the land of Ethiopia which lay at the headwaters of the Nile. It had winged sailboats along the river and he told the ambassadors to go home and take a message to their land of tall, smooth-skinned people who were feared for their conquests and destruction.

Isaiah said the Lord would watch quietly from his dwelling place, and even before the people's plans were ripening, he would cut them off and their mighty army would be left dead in the fields. But the time would come when the Lord would receive gifts from this land and this people and they would bring these gifts to Jerusalem where the Lord's name dwells.

CHAPTER 19
Isaiah prophesied that the Lord was advancing on Egypt and their idols would tremble and their hearts would melt with fear. He would make Egyptians fight against each other, brother against brother. He would cause them to lose heart and he would confuse their plans. Though the Egyptians would call on spirits, medium and psychics, he would hand them over to a cruel master, a fierce king.

The waters of the Nile would fail to rise and flood the fields and the riverbeds would be dry. All crops would dry up and everything would die. And the Lord asks, What fools are the counselors? Their best counsel to the king of Egypt was stupid and wrong. They had ruined the land with foolish counsel and they stagger lie a sick drunkard.

And, says the Lord, in that day the Egyptians will be as weak as women and cower in fear before the Lord.Five of their cities will follow the Lord. they will even begin to speak the Hebrew language. One will be Heliopolis. And in that day an altar to the Lord will be in the heart of Egypt and a monument to the Lord at its border. When the people cry to the Lord for help against their oppressors, he will send them a savior who will rescue them. On that day, the Lord will make himself know to the Egyptians and they will give sacrifices and offerings to him and make promises to the Lord and keep them. The Lord will strike Egypt in a way that will bring healing and they will turn to him. Also in that day, Egypt and Assyria will be connected by a highway and they will each move freely between their lands and will worship the same God. Israel will be their ally; so there will be three together and a blessing will be upon them.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW:Egypt, who had enslaved God's people in the past, was hated by Israel. Yet Judah was considering an alliance with Egypt against Assyria, but Isaiah warned against this alliance because God would destroy Assyria in his time.

HOW DO THESE CHAPTERS RELATE TO US TODAY? It was amazing that the two oppressors of Israel, Egypt and Assyria would unite in worship. Not even their great and wise counselors saw that coming. For true wisdom comes from God, ONLY from God. If you are confused about something in your life right now, pray to God for the wisdom to deal with it.

Wasn't it great in verse 20 that Isaiah says there will be a sign and a witness to the Lord in the land of Egypt and a savior will rescue them? This is foreshadowing the coming of Jesus Christ. In Jesus Christ, former enemies may unite in love. Christ breaks down all barriers that threaten relationships. Pray to him now and confess that he is Lord.

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH: Pray for Gabe. Pray for Logan and her difficult pregnancy.
Pray for Janice Long’s parents, especially her mother who faces another round of chemotherapy and her father with Alzheimer’s and now her mother in law also with Alzheimer’s. Their family is feeling the strain both emotionally and financially. Pray for them. Update on this family: Her mother-in-law is being taken to Oklahoma to live with an aunt who will care for her.
Pray for Arlene’s nephew David and for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life.
Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer and for her sister Wanda’s soul which went to heaven.
Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with MS.
UPDATE on Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke, she has her speech back and is home , but continues to have a problem with one arm and hand. Thanks to your prayers, she is able to hobble without a cane and has been granted disability. She still has surgery scheduled on her hand, but I saw her recently and her attitude is fantastic.
Pray for Robert Sargent who is quite ill with lung cancer.
Pray for Gary Summers, my friend from church, who has cancer.
Pray for Judy’s husband who was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Pray for her too, that she can deal with the side effects of his illness.
Pray too for Charly’s husband Robert who is undergoing chemo for his prostate cancer. Update on Robert: he has one more treatment and then three months of waiting for his psat test to come back clean.
Pray for James’s sister Cynthia whose chemo has lost its effect as the cancer grows powerful.
Pray for another friend named Carolyn whose faith remains strong, but is lost and confused about where and how to spend her elder years.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake, survivors of the devastating tornadoes in our southernmost states and Joplin, Missouri. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.