Isaiah 19 reminds me that some of the most fanatical anti-smoking people are former smokers. Often their fervor was ignited after suffering some harm from the behavior. This is true with radical diets as well; the most zealous are the ones motivated by a medical scare. The passionate do not understand those that are ambivalent. The reformed point to their own body as proof of both the damage and renewal born from change. Most people do not make a major lifestyle changes unless they personally face a crisis. In today’s chapter, Isaiah writes “A prophecy against Egypt” and it is not pretty. “See, the LORD rides on a swift cloud and is coming to Egypt… The idols of Egypt tremble… the hearts of the Egyptians melt with fear“. I believe this is an End Times event. The Lord declares, “I will stir up Egyptian against Egyptian brother will fight against brother“. In times of tribulation, we tend to listen to anyone, “The Egyptians will lose heart… they will consult the idols and the spirits of the dead“. Panic and pain do not drive us to logic; instead we cling to anything that promises relief. Carefree prosperity has left Egypt ripe for crisis. God adds, “I will hand the Egyptians over to the power of a cruel master… a fierce king will rule over them“. Is there a cruel master in your future?
Isaiah continues, his vision for Egypt, “The waters of the river will dry up… the riverbed will be parched and dry… The reeds and rushes will wither… Every sown field along the Nile will become parched“. He adds, “The wise counselors of Pharaoh give senseless advice“. In desperation, they listen, “The officials… have become fools, the leaders… deceived“. Unwilling to sober up, God allows the party to continue. “The LORD has poured into them a spirit of dizziness… as a drunkard staggers around in his vomit… There is nothing Egypt can do“. Isaiah pictures a people that have lost all hope, “the Egyptians will become weaklings. They will shudder with fear at the uplifted hand that the LORD Almighty“. Have you decided to surrender to your problems, rather than surrender to God?
Somewhere, in a dark corner, there is a spark of light. “In that day five cities in Egypt… swear allegiance to the LORD Almighty… there will be an altar to the LORD in the heart of Egypt“. Listen to this if you have been ready to give in, “When they cry out to the LORD because of their oppressors, He will send them a savior and defender, and He will rescue them… the LORD will make Himself known to the Egyptians, and in that day they will acknowledge the LORD“. I believe hope will come in the form of someone that has experienced radical salvation, someone that knows God’s love and healing personally. “They will worship… they will make vows to the LORD and keep them… and He will respond to their pleas and heal them“. The chapter concludes with the “After” picture; people bound together in worship. “The Egyptians and Assyrians will worship together“. “The LORD Almighty will bless them, saying, ‘Blessed be Egypt my people, Assyria my handiwork, and Israel my inheritance’.” We are living in days of desperation and deception now. Are you willing to stand and speak and be His walking testimony of rebirth? Only God’s Word and God’s Spirit change hearts for eternity. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13). May the hope of Jesus Christ be radically present in your life today!