We're going to return to Isaiah chapter 19. In our series through Isaiah, this is now message number 26, entitled, The Burden of Egypt. So we're going to be looking at this chapter, and I'm going to start with verses 1 and 2. The Burden of Egypt. Behold, the Lord writheth 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. And I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians and they shall fight everyone against his brother and everyone against his neighbor, city against city and kingdom against kingdom." Well chapter 18 contained the woe to Cush and we of course have to acknowledge some difficulties with that chapter. There's some things that we can't be entirely certain of what the specific reference is but we can find the primary message of that chapter and that's certainly what we attempted to do. Now the Cushites We do know though that they felt pressure from Assyria just like the other nations of the region in that time and they sought answers in alliances with other nations and possibly Israel which would prove unable to deliver them. And so Cush learns of the prophesied downfall of Assyria and experienced the tribute pilgrimage to Jerusalem as a result. Now that did not mean their conversion historically. Again, after the fall of Assyria when Sennacherib's army was destroyed outside the walls of Jerusalem and he fled back home. was murdered by, assassinated by his own sons. But that didn't mean that many of the nations around after that defeat of Assyria, which was the great enemy at that time, many of the nations, they brought tribute to Hezekiah in Jerusalem. But again, that didn't mean their conversion historically. But the prophecy also points forward to the future time of the kingdom when the nations of the earth will bring their tribute in worship of the king in Zion and we've talked about that a number of times and we'll probably talk about a little more here in this message. Chapter 19 gives the burden of Egypt and this chapter is one of the most profound and remarkable prophecies of the kingdom in all of scripture and I'm just willing to guess that you probably didn't think that. It just does not receive the attention that it deserves. It is completely consistent with other prophecies of that future time with the second coming of Christ. but it has some specifics that are found nowhere else in the Bible. We have many, many prophecies of this time, particularly regarding Israel and Judah and their future restoration as one nation of Israel, but we don't have all that we have spoken of in this chapter particularly pertaining to other nations outside of Israel in that time. So again, it's just a remarkable chapter of prophecy. Now the prophecies of this chapter have not been fulfilled historically, not from Isaiah's time, even until this very day. And they are for the time of tribulation, the day of the Lord, the return of Christ in the millennial kingdom. Now this chapter, as you read it from beginning to end, does follow a certain progression. There's a progression from judgment to salvation for Egypt in that future day. So we want to look at this in two parts. The first part, which primarily focuses on the judgment and then transitions to the salvation. So in verses 1 to 15, essentially all the things that Egypt was trusting in, all the hope that they had in human strength will not avail them. In verses 16 to 25, we then read about the salvation of Egypt in that future time, which again, just a remarkable prophecy that we don't really encounter anywhere else. So we're going to begin in the first part of this. There's no hope in human strength and all the things they've relied on. So we'll start here with the first four verses. 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. And I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians and they shall fight everyone against his brother and everyone against his neighbor, city against city and kingdom against kingdom. and the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof, and I will destroy the council thereof, and they shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards. 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." So we have described in these first four verses essentially a failure of Egypt's religion. And what we're going to see is different areas in which they trusted that are proven to be failures in terms of being able to deliver them. We saw something very similar much earlier in regard to Israel and Judah and different things that they were trusting in other than the Lord and how those things will be shown to be of no value, of no benefit. Now Egypt, that is mentioned here, is a very ancient nation, descended from Noah's son Ham, one of his sons, named Misraim, in fact, and Cush is actually descended from one of other Ham's sons. That's back in Genesis chapter 10 and verse number 6. And so they have been in existence for a very long time, and since the time of the Exodus, essentially have been hated enemies of Israel. And so this passage looks forward to the coming of Yahweh on a cloud to Egypt. Now this is very vivid and rich imagery that is most often associated with judgment historically and eschatologically. In other words, it could refer to a judgment that come in the more near time or more immediate time or referring to that far future judgment, particularly that of the day of the Lord. So it's sort of a scattering of those imagery, Deuteronomy 32 verse 36. Psalms 18 verse 10, 68 verse 33, 104 verse 3, and then we get those more future-oriented day of the Lord in particular, Daniel chapter 7 verse 13, Matthew chapter 24 verse number 30, Matthew 26 verse 64, and Revelation chapter 1 and verse number 7. So ultimately this, the Lord Yahweh riding on a cloud coming to Egypt is speaking of the judgment of the day of the Lord that is coming. So again, when you look at this chapter, none of these things have been fulfilled historically. And so they are for this future time and involving this nation of Egypt. Egypt, we are told, in very descriptive language, will be stricken with fear. with such fear that even their idols will tremble." And again, this is that time of tribulation. In other words, their idols will provide them no help, no deliverance from the wrath of God." We read about how that Egypt will be struck with civil wars and domestic unrest and how that this will bring a crippling effect on the nation. Of course, making them very ripe for the false peace of the Antichrist in that time. And so all of the usual avenues, those things that they had come to trust in and to rely on will fail them, and they will desperately seek to their idols, to their spirits, And this seeking of the idols and the spirits and the mediums and all these sort of things, it is a sign of desperation, much like we saw involved with Israel back in chapter eight and verse number 19. But none of that is going to matter because there is going to be no help in any of those things. They're going to be shown for what they are. And so they will become under the rule of this fierce and cruel king. this fierceness, this fierce king who is to come. He's described that way in Daniel. Talk, of course, about the man of sin, the Antichrist. They're going to come under his cruel wrath and reign in the time of tribulation, at least for a time. Going on to verses 5 to 10. And the waters shall fell from the sea, and the rivers shall be wasted and dried up. And they shall turn the rivers far away, and the brooks of defense shall be emptied and dried up. The reeds and flags shall wither. The paper reeds by the brooks, by the mouth of the brooks, and everything sewn by the brooks shall wither, be driven away, and be no more. The fishers also shall mourn, and all they that cast angle into the brooks shall lament, and they that spread nets upon the water shall languish. Moreover, they that work in fine flax and they that weave networks shall be confounded, and they shall be broken in the purposes thereof, all that make sluices and ponds for fish." So now we're getting another area. We are seeing a failure that is going to come to the economy of Egypt in this time through the failure of natural resources, particularly that of the Nile River. And this drying up of the Nile is going to have just such a crippling effect. It's going to lead to drought. It's going to lead to famine. It's going to lead to, of course, widespread unemployment and economic distress. Actually, the drying up of these rivers and waters and things in that future time is referred to in other places like Joel 3.19, Zechariah 10.11, Ezekiel 30.12. We have some other references to these as well. Then we go to verses 11 to 15. Surely the princes of Zoan are fools. The counsel of the wise counselors of Pharaoh has become brutish. How say ye unto Pharaoh, I am the son of the wise, the son of ancient kings? Where are they? Where are thy wise men? Let them tell me now, and let them know what the Lord of hosts hath purposed upon Egypt. The princes of Zoan are become fools. The princes of Naph are deceived. They have also seduced Egypt, even they that are the stay of the tribes thereof. 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. Neither shall there be any work for Egypt which the head or tail, branch or rush may do." Now this reference to Zohan and Naf, these are cities in Egypt. Naf being the city of Memphis, Zohan the city of Tannis. So this is a major north city and a major south city. Again, it's a way of describing that this is going to be complete. It's going to be thorough throughout the land of Egypt. It's not going to leave any parts of it untouched. It's going to cover it. And the area of failure that we see in this particular part of the passage is a failure of their leaders, their trusted leaders, their trusted counselors, those who they've always been able to rely on in their times of crisis and distress and times of trouble to lead them out. And all of those things are going to fail to deliver them. In fact, their very best are being described as being like staggering drunken men. Now, I don't know about you, but if I'm looking for someone to give me wise counsel, it is not going to be someone staggering around drunk. That's not where I'm going to expect to receive wise and good counsel. But that's what the very best of their counselors are going to be like in that day. So they are not the premier dispensers of wisdom and they will not be able to deliver them. Now this first part has described these terrors in judgments and the effects that they're going to have upon Egypt in that future time, in that future time of tribulation. But then when we get to verse 16, and for the rest of this chapter, we're going to see a turn. The message begins to make a turn, and the trouble in Egypt that has previously been mentioned, we're going to see six promises that are given to Egypt, and they're all marked by the reference, in that day. They're all marked that way. Six promises to Egypt and reference to the events that are associated with the last of days as we have already seen. So let's begin looking at these now. Start with verses 16 and 17. 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. And the land of Judah shall be a terror unto Egypt. Everyone that maketh mention thereof shall be afraid in himself because of the counsel of the Lord of hosts which he hath determined against it." Now obviously the first one that we get here and we see that it begins there within that day. Now that day is the day that these judgments will come upon them and that day is also that last of days time frame that we have seen from very early in Isaiah's prophecy when he's talking about these events that are going to come to pass. And again, another way we could be certain of that is as we go on and we begin to read not only of judgment but also salvation for Egypt. So in the time, in that day of God's wrath. Egypt is going to experience great fear, and this is the imagery of women. It's the idea of being powerless against a great strength and power that's overtaking, and they're in great fear. That's very common imagery of being terrified that way in judgment. Jeremiah uses it. Jeremiah chapter 50, verse 37, and chapter 51 and verse number 30 appears in some other places. But notice why it is. It's because the Lord's hand, the hand of Yahweh, is stretched out against them. Now this is such a time of judgment in which it's not seen as a run of bad luck. It's not seen as just some general ill fortune that has befallen the nation of Egypt. They are terrified because the hand of the Lord is stretched out against them. So again, this is not something general. This is something more unique. Of course, it's reminiscent of the plagues in the Exodus. And at that time as well, they were made to know that the Lord had moved against them. So it will be similar. There will be no question in these judgments. And that's what we read about this time of tribulation, how that it is a unique time. This has not happened before. It will never happen again, but it will be a time when God's wrath is poured out upon the nations of this earth, and it will be unquestionable. where it comes from and whose hand is stretched out against them. They will come to fear Israel. Notice that in verse 17. The land of Judah will be a terror to them. They will come to fear Israel. And this is pointing to God exalting of that restored nation of Israel over all the nations of the earth in that day. Of course, this will be at the conclusion of this time of tribulation, the day of the Lord, when the Lord returns. and destroys all those nations that are gathered against them. Verse 18, So now in verse 18 we're seeing judgment turning to salvation. the language of Canaan that's being referred to, this is the language of the land of Israel, the land that truly belongs to Israel by the promise of God to Abraham. And that language that's being referred to is Hebrew, the language of Israel. This will be language spoken in the five cities of Egypt. In other words, throughout this land. Now, this city of destruction that is mentioned, and this is another one of those very difficult references to know exactly what is being spoken of, but it does seem likely a reference to the place known as Heliopolis. the city of the sun, which is a major center of sun worship, that's going to be turned to the God of Israel and speak the language of Israel in that day, in that future time. And this isn't necessarily a chronology. Verses 19 and 20. 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 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 savior and a great one and he shall deliver them." Now this describes memorials to the Lord, to Yahweh in Egypt. The altar and the pillar that's referred to refer to memorials to the Lord in the land of Egypt. Furthermore, they're called signs and witnesses in Egypt and signs and witnesses of the Savior and the deliverer that we are told that's going to be sent to Egypt when they turn to the Lord and they cry to Him. Now, of course, this is a picture repentance. It's a picture of turning to the Lord in that day. All these things that they have trusted in and they acknowledge God's wrath against them and they turn and cry out to Him the only source of help and mercy and we're told He will hear them. He will hear them. He will send a Savior. He will send a Deliverer. Now, what we have already seen alluded to in this section of Isaiah chapters 13 to 23, we've already seen alluded to in this section, is that in these messages of judgment against these various nations, there's also hints and sometimes explicit statements here and there that there will be a preserving of remnants of these nations not being totally destroyed now Babylon we do read about a total destruction there but not being totally destroyed but that remnants being preserved of these nations who will turn and trust such that nations survive his coming and enter his kingdom and that of course is very evident when you read places like Zechariah chapter 14 verses 9 to 16, when the Lord is king over all the earth in that day, when He has returned, His feet are standing on the Mount of Olives and then the nations are made subject to Him. Matthew chapter 25, when the nations are judged and those that are wicked and unbelieving are cast into hell and those that are believing will enter into his kingdom. We get that described very vividly in Revelation chapter 19 and 20 and those nations in that millennial kingdom. So what I'm saying is that Isaiah gives us in this section, yes, these messages of judgment on nation after nation, but also sprinkled in there are messages of a remnant. It is more pronounced in the case of Egypt than what we find in the case of others, but it's indicative of the whole of the nations. There will be remnants preserved. In other words, there's going to be those saved out of these nations, even in that time of God's wrath, so that they won't be entirely and totally destroyed. Verses 21 and 22. And the Lord shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the Lord in that day, and shall do sacrifice and oblation or tribute. Yea, they shall vow a vow unto the Lord and perform it. 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. Egypt, we are told, will know the Lord. Now, they would come to know the Lord in the plagues, in the time of the Exodus, in the way of judgment. But also, it hadn't been that long ago that we went through Exodus, and what did we find when God finally led Israel out? That there was a mixed multitude. of Egyptians as well as others of the nations, most likely other slaves, captives of war and such of other nations that went up out of Israel with Egypt. There was a remnant there of various nations that went with Israel toward the promised land. So the Lord will be known in judgment. In other words, there'll be no question that this is God's wrath, and the nations of the earth will know that this is God's wrath, that they are suffering. And for all of that, still yet, many of them will not believe. They will not turn, they will not repent. We read descriptions of that very vividly in the book of Revelation. But God will also be known by remnants of the nations who will turn to him. And Isaiah talks about this more, even to chapter 60 and verse number 16. And they will turn to the Lord, described here with what I believe to be new covenant sacrifices, tributes and vows and such. The Lord's judgment then, notice what it said, he will smite, he will both smite Egypt and heal it. In other words, his judgment will be an instrument of turning some of that nation to himself. He will hear, he will respond to cries for mercy, And how remarkable is it again? We read all these descriptions of God's wrath. And that is something that many people despise. They don't want to hear about God's wrath. They don't want to hear it preached. They don't want to think about it. They want to turn that away. Well, God's God of love, so that can't possibly. That was just God then in the Old Testament. All these sort of things. We don't want to do away with it. And forget the fact that while God's wrath is terrible, it's not something I just want to sit around contemplating on. It's not something I just want to sit around meditating about as if it would give me joy. But the message and the truth is, is that that wrath, as terrible as it is, can be turned away. It can be turned away. And we're looking here at a prophecy to Egypt how in that day, at least from some of that nation, it will be turned away. They will cry for mercy and God will hear them. and He will heal them, even though He had smitten that nation. So this section of these woes to the nations, again, it's very strong on messianic hope for the nations. It's just much more explicit, much more pronounced here in regards to Egypt. Verse 23, and this is where really from verse 23, 24, and 25 is where we really get probably the most remarkable statements in this chapter. Again, not found in other places. Verse 23, and in that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria and the Assyrians shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptians into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians." The word for serve there actually has the idea of worship. I think some of the newer translations even translate it that way. Egypt and Assyria. Now at the time of this prophecy, Assyria and Egypt were both powerful and bitter enemies. And this aligns with the raging of the nations that we saw not too long ago mentioned back in chapter 17 verses 12 to 14, right at the end of that chapter. But notice that there's a turn here. Assyria and Egypt in that day, not bitter enemies, not hostile aggressors toward one another, not seeking out alliances and confederations with other nations to destroy the other, They will be joined together by a highway that joins both with Egyptians in Assyria and Assyria in Egypt. It seems that in more ancient times, that these peoples and these lands that are being spoken of, they were connected by trade route from what is modern day Egypt to Assyria, which would be modern day northern Iraq. Ultimately, the message here, again, whether this message is telling us that there will literally be a highway constructed joining these lands and these... I'm not entirely certain if that is the case, but ultimately, the message here is of a peaceful, harmonious, existence of nations in the kingdom, certainly with free trade and free commerce and converse between them. And they will be unified in worshiping the Lord, the knowledge of the Lord filling those nations and those lands and the worship of the king occupying. We've already read the descriptions of how they won't be learning war. in that time, and their instruments of war will be done with. They'll be productive, and they'll be sharing, and there'll be a complete harmony and peace among all nations, even those that were such bitter enemies as Egypt and Assyria. And then we continue. Verses 24 and 25. In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land, whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt, my people, and Assyria, the work of my hands, and Israel, mine inheritance." The unlikely union of Egypt to the south and Assyria to the north and Israel in between them. And again, all bitter enemies, hostile rivals in the time that this prophecy was spoken, and historically. But we're told here that Israel, again, right in the middle of these peoples and lands, will be a blessing. to the nations of the earth, three enemy nations existing together in peaceful harmony. Now the word third that's used here, third, and it literally means that, third. That means one, two, three, the third. What that indicates then, and again, what is so profound, so remarkable, and receives so little attention, is that each of these nations mentioned is and will be distinct entities, distinct nations. In other words, Egypt and Assyria don't become Israel. Egypt and Assyria are not part of some expanded Israel. In fact, Israel is not expanded beyond the only biblical definition that we have, which is the nation descended from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as a nation possessing the promised land inheritance beginning with Abraham. It's the only biblical definition that we have of Israel. Now, Israel will, this isn't about Israel in this particular in this particular oracle, Israel will undergo a purging judgment so that the wicked will be cut out from among them and the righteous will be entered into the kingdom. That will happen. So in the kingdom, when Christ returned, nations will continue to exist as nations. Distinct ethnic, political, territorial entities. All the wicked will have been purged. Saved nations will enter the kingdom right along with saved Israel. Again, remarkable. Now notice something else. What is said about Egypt, Assyria, and Israel? Well, Egypt and Assyria here in this passage are both spoken of in terms usually and almost exclusively used to describe Israel in relationship to God. This is the extremely rare case where descriptions used of Israel in relationship to God are applied to other nations as nations, not as a new Israel, not as an expanded Israel, as nations, as Egypt, as Assyria. Egypt in that day will be blessed Notice this, as God's nation. Blessed be Egypt, my people. And I hope that you would think, wait a minute. People is probably not any sort of anthropological reference. It's probably a reference to nations. My people, spoken of God, is probably a singular usage of the word Om with the possessive as belonging to God. And God only says that of Israel, and that is true. And here's the one exception. Egypt, he says, my people. The exception to everywhere else, this usage that refers to Israel. But it's also similar to how almost in very rare cases, Israel is referred to as a goy in the negative. one of the nations in the negative. In other words, as unbelievers in that sense. It doesn't happen much. It does happen some, but it doesn't happen much. So again, both of these exceptions are very, very meaningful. This doesn't mean Egypt replaces Israel. Remember, Israel is the third with Egypt and Assyria. What it means is that God will do exactly what he promised to do when he promised to Abraham so long ago that he would bless all nations of the earth through that nation from Abraham that he has chosen. Likewise, he describes Assyria as the work of his hands. Again, now that's an even rarer reference. He referred to Israel as the work of his hands because it was his craftsmanship. He chose and made that nation, but here he refers to Assyria that way. And then, of course, he also refers to Israel the third, mine inheritance. Israel is not superseded. Israel is not fulfilled by many nations. It's not transformed. It's not replaced. In any of the language that is so common to be used, Israel as Israel, a distinct nation, is and will be God's inheritance. the nation that He has chosen, and the land where He will plant His King on this earth in that day. Now when we read these prophecies of Egypt in particular in this chapter and put that together with other prophecies concerning Egypt like in Ezekiel 29-32, we can see a picture developing that Egypt will suffer in the tribulation and for the first 40 years of the kingdom They will be scattered among nations in the land of Egypt uninhabited. But the remarkable promise is that they will be gathered and restored." Now again, this is the sort of thing we almost exclusively read about Israel. But here in this case, we read it of Egypt. Well, God's purpose for the nations goes beyond this age into that millennium and beyond that millennium into the eternal ages and the New Jerusalem. We read the Revelation 21 verses 22 to 27 about the nations and that New Jerusalem and the new earth and the eternal ages and how they'll bring glory and honor into the New Jerusalem in honor and praise of Jesus Christ the King. And there will be no sin, nothing defiling, no abomination, no lie, nothing but righteousness that will exist for all eternity. So we have to be amazed, once again, as we read this passage. And what it really should do is humble us to think, how could God speak this way? How could His mercy and His grace be so great? that he speaks this way, that this is what he does, that he saves sinners not only of Israel but of all the nations. We really have to be amazed by that kind of grace that God's wrath can be turned even from Egypt. And so I'm going to close with just the messianic hope for all nations. This is Luke chapter 2, verses 10 to 14, when the angels appear to the shepherds announcing the birth of Jesus. For behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people, all people of the earth. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ, the Lord, the very Savior that God promised to send for Egypt. And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill toward men. That's what the coming of Emmanuel means.