Isaiah 19 (click here to read the passage)
As many of you know, I enjoy a good movie. For me, a good movie contains several elements, but when a movie catches me with an unexpected yet reasonable twist in the narrative, those are the movies I love to watch again. I was thinking about that because in chapter 19, we get a surprise twist.
Chapters 14-18 are filled with interesting prophecies about the consequences some nations will face for their unrepentant sinfulness. However, chapter 19 is remarkably interesting because, midway through, we encounter a twist: a time of hope is to come, which would have been shocking to Isaiah’s readers.
Verses 1-15 talk about the fall of the mighty nation of Egypt. These verses focus on three areas that the Egyptian people thought they could trust unconditionally: their gods, the Nile River, and the legendary wisdom of Egypt. Sadly, all of them fail the people of Egypt and leave them in despair.
Then the astonishing twist happens in verses 16-25. Egypt ultimately turns and places its trust in the Lord! Isaiah is prophesying about a time in the future when the Egyptians will trust the Lord: the very thing that the people of God are struggling to do in this moment.
But it gets even better! Not only will Egypt come to trust the Lord, so will the Assyrians, the nation-state that destroyed the northern kingdom of Israel.
Here’s the thing to keep in mind as we read through these various oracles: the ultimate goal of the Lord is not destruction but the reconciliation of all people. Geographically, this is represented by the kingdoms of Egypt (in the southwest) and Assyria (in the northeast), with Israel in the middle, literally becoming the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham to all his descendants in Genesis 12:3.
Hope not just for one nation, but for all the nations as they come to trust the Lord, and here we have the crimson whisper of the ultimate hope of the future in what the Lord will do through His Son, Jesus.
So the big question that Isaiah’s readers have faced so far is regarding trust: “Who are you going to trust?” Nations and governments that have proven repeatedly that they will fail and fall short, or God, who has proven repeatedly that He has, does, and will keep His promises.
Can you see where this is leading?
Who are you going to trust? I’m amazed at how often we put our trust in things and other people rather than the Lord. Think about it for a moment, what holds your trust? Is it your health? Some of us are old enough or, unfortunately, have had experiences to know better. Is it your work? Your finances? Is it your relationships, friends, family, or spouse? Is your trust placed in a political party or a person in power?
The truth is that they will all let you down at some point or another. Not that they want to, but they will, because they are finite in their capacities. Fortunately, God is not! if you look at His track record throughout human history…, God has never failed to keep His promises.
So my challenge to you is to place your trust in the One that matters, who has never failed and will never let you down.
God bless you, and know that I am constantly praying for you.
Scott