Egypt was one of the great powers of the ancient world, and being situated immediately to the south of Israel, it was an empire that Israel constantly had to reckon with. Many times Egypt had been the enemy of Israel, at times Egypt had been a refuge for Israel, and sometimes Egypt offered a tempting but ungodly alliance to Israel. Egypt and Ethiopia practically made up one kingdom. This chapter takes us from the past into the distant future.

1. Egypt will have a lot of trouble (vs. 1-17)

• Swift judgment from Jehovah shall throw the nation and its idols into a panic (vs. 1). The Assyrians are God’s means of judgment upon Egypt. They will stir Egypt to its very depths. Idols will not be able to help them.
• There will be civil war (vs. 2).
• In fear they will turn to mediums and wizards (vs. 3). God will confound their counsel.
• God will give Egypt into the power of a foreign king (vs. 4). Assyria did take over Egypt for a while.
• The river Nile will dry up and the people will not be able to catch any fish (vs. 5-8).
• Other kinds of work will suffer also (vs. 9, 10 & 15).
• The leaders will not know what to do (vs. 11-14, 16 & 17). Isaiah taunts them in verse 12. The Egyptians had not turned to the one true God. They had turned to human wisdom by consulting mediums, wizards and idols. The condition of Egypt under judgment is seen in verses 13-15.

2. Egypt will be blessed and Assyria and Israel also (vs. 18-25)

The restoration and blessing of these nations is promised by God. Notice the expression “in that day”. Egypt will experience a great spiritual transformation (vs. 20-22). Why does Egypt have such a glorious future in God’s plan? It has probably to do with the Exodus when Israel sheltered Israel. Egypt, Assyria and Israel will have a treaty with each other (vs. 23-25). This will happen when Christ comes back to rule.

Categories: Isaiah