Isaiah 19

Burden of Egypt

Isa 19:1 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.

God's judgement would come to Egypt. For sure this happened in Exodus when the death angel came as a cloud killing the first born of Egypt,

Exo 12:12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.

Isa 19:2 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.

There would be rebellion and civil war within Egypt. The nation would be divided into twelve kingdoms.The kingdoms would war, one with another.

Isa 19:3 And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof; and I will destroy the counsel thereof: and they shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards.

Egypt is a type of the world. The spirit of Egypt was worldly knowledge; worship of men and idols. Their wisdom would fail them, and they would seek the occult for wisdom and guidance, turning from human reasoning to the darkness of false idols; to charmers and seers, familiar spirits that had watched a family for generations and to wizards, that conjured up spirits and cast spells. This was and is a great sin.

Remember when Moses came to deliver Israel from Egypt, that the plagues all represented one of their false gods. God showed that he was above all of their gods, and greater than their sorceries. Goodness is greater than evil. (Exo 7-12)

Isa 19:4 And the Egyptians will I give over into the hand of a cruel lord; and a fierce king shall rule over them, saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts.

Nebuchadnezzar, who first conquered and ravaged Egypt, B.C. 573, and the following year; and then, not only his successors, but Cambyses, (who invaded Egypt, B.C. 526,) the son of Cyrus, and the whole succession of Persian kings till the time of Alexander, who were in general hard masters, and grievously oppressed the country. (Treasury of Scripture Knowledge)

Drought in Egypt

Isa 19:5 And the waters shall fail from the sea, and the river shall be wasted and dried up.

God will bring a drought to Egypt.

Isa 19:6 And they shall turn the rivers far away; and the brooks of defence shall be emptied and dried up: the reeds and flags shall wither.

Brooks of defense shall be emptied; the Nile formed a barrier from their enemies. The water turned foul. The reeds that were used in making baskets and boats, would wither.

2 Ki 19:24 I have digged and drunk strange waters, and with the sole of my feet have I dried up all the rivers of besieged places.

Isa 19:7 The paper reeds by the brooks, by the mouth of the brooks, and every thing sown by the brooks, shall wither, be driven away, and be no more.

Paper is made from the papyrus plant, along the Nile, by separating it with a needle point into very thin strips as broad as possible. The choice quality comes from the center, and thence in the order of slicing. The choice quality in former times called 'hieratic' because it was devoted only to religious books. They were often rolled into scrolls. A scroll is a roll of parchment, papyrus, or paper which has been written, drawn or painted upon.

Isa 19:8 The fishers also shall mourn, and all they that cast angle into the brooks shall lament, and they that spread nets upon the waters shall languish.

The fishing industry, will suffer and the nets could not be used, for the water would be gone.

Isa 19:9 Moreover they that work in fine flax, and they that weave networks, shall be confounded.

Those who worked in fine linens and white cloth shall be confused.

Isa 19:10 And they shall be broken in the purposes thereof, all that make sluices and ponds for fish.

Jer 50:38 A drought is upon her waters; and they shall be dried up: for it is the land of graven images, and they are mad upon their idols.

Ezek 14:13 Son of man, when the land sinneth against me by trespassing grievously, then will I stretch out mine hand upon it, and will break the staff of the bread thereof, and will send famine upon it, and will cut off man and beast from it:

Industry and commerce from the river, agriculture and trade would be upset. God will allow this time of drought for His purpose. Always seek God who has the answers for your life.

The LORD against Egypt

Isa 19:11 Surely the princes of Zoan are fools, the counsel of the wise counsellors of Pharaoh is become brutish: how say ye unto Pharaoh, I am the son of the wise, the son of ancient kings?

Psa 78:12 Marvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.
Psa 78:13 He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters to stand as an heap.

The counsellors of Pharaoh were flatterers, who were called fools and their advice was harmful.

Psa 78:36 Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues.

Isa 19:12 Where are they? where are thy wise men? and let them tell thee now, and let them know what the LORD of hosts hath purposed upon Egypt.

Where are the wise men who will tell you the truth; the true prophets who will warn you?

Isa 30:9 That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD:
Isa 30:10 Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:

Isa 19:13 The princes of Zoan are become fools, the princes of Noph are deceived; they have also seduced Egypt, even they that are the stay of the tribes thereof.

Woe to a nation whose leaders are fools and walk not in the truth. They are inept and cruel.

Isa 19:14 The LORD hath mingled a perverse spirit in the midst thereof: and they have caused Egypt to err in every work thereof, as a drunken man staggereth in his vomit.

They had no wisdom and the LORD gave them a spirit of confusion and drunkenness.

Prov 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

Isa 19:15 Neither shall there be any work for Egypt, which the head or tail, branch or rush, may do.

No work, no commerce for the high or the lowly, for the lofty Palm or the lowly reed.

Isa 19:16 In that day shall Egypt be like unto women: and it shall be afraid and fear because of the shaking of the hand of the LORD of hosts, which he shaketh over it.

Jer 51:30 The mighty men of Babylon have forborne to fight, they have remained in their holds: their might hath failed; they became as women: they have burned her dwelling places; her bars are broken.

They were weak and fearful, because of the invaders.

Isa 19:17 And the land of Judah shall be a terror unto Egypt, every one that maketh mention thereof shall be afraid in himself, because of the counsel of the LORD of hosts, which he hath determined against it.

Exo 14:24 And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians,
Exo 14:25 And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the LORD fighteth for them against the Egyptians.

Josiah defeated the king of Egypt.

2 Ki 23:29 In his days Pharaohnechoh king of Egypt went up against the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates: and king Josiah went against him; and he slew him at Megiddo, when he had seen him.

Israel in this generation is stronger than Egypt. They have atomic weapons and a strong military. Most importantly, the LORD is with them.

Rom 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

Egypt Saved

Isa 19:18 In that day shall five cities in the land of Egypt speak the language of Canaan, and swear to the LORD of hosts; one shall be called, The city of destruction.

Five cities; five is the number of grace. Grace and salvation had/will come to Egypt. The language of Canaan is Hebrew and there is a heavenly language for prayer, through the Holy Spirit.

Rom 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Rom 8:27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

The City of Destruction, was probably the City of the Sun the ancient city of Heliopolis, the Greek form of the words "the City of the Sun."

Isa 19:19 In that day shall there be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof to the LORD.

The pillar, of course, is a reference to the pillar that Jacob erected after his vision of God at the city of Bethel. Thus the altar and the pillar are a sign of Egypt's conversion. They simply speak of a Gentile recognition of the God of Israel and the fact that Egyptians begin to worship that God.(Stedman)

Isa 19:20 And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt: for they shall cry unto the LORD because of the oppressors, and he shall send them a saviour, and a great one, and he shall deliver them.

They will receive Jesus who sets the captives free.

2 Sam 22:2 And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;
2 Sam 22:3 The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.
2 Sam 22:4 I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
2 Sam 22:5 When the waves of death compassed me, the floods of ungodly men made me afraid;
2 Sam 22:6 The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me;
2 Sam 22:7 In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry did enter into his ears.

He will do the same for you and I.

Isa 19:21 And the LORD shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the LORD in that day, and shall do sacrifice and oblation; yea, they shall vow a vow unto the LORD, and perform it.
Isa 19:22 And the LORD shall smite Egypt: he shall smite and heal it: and they shall return even to the LORD, and he shall be entreated of them, and shall heal them.

The LORD will smite Egypt and heal it. They shall receive the Lord.

Heb 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name and taking the Lord's supper.

Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
Heb 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

Acts 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
Acts 10:35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

Egypt and Assyria saved

Isa 19:23 In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians.

In that day, refers to the end times, perhaps after Christ Jesus returns. Two enemy nations will serve the Lord together in Jerusalem, in the millenium.

Isa 19:24 In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land:
Isa 19:25 Whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance.

All the nations that remain will come to Jesus and be under his authority. There will at last be peace on earth among all peoples for a thousand years. Assyria is modern day Iraq. In the days of old it was a cruel country, torturing it's prisoners. Jonah hated them and would not go to them to prophesy, because he wanted them destroyed, not saved. Have we enemies that we do not want to be saved? Jesus came to save that which was lost, so we should follow his example.

Mat 5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
Mat 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Mat 5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

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