True Believers-Isaiah 19-20

Isaiah, Old Testament, Sermons

“So the Lord will make himself known to the Egyptians, and in that day they will acknowledge the Lord” (Isa 19:21, NIV).

Theme: Marks of true believers. Interestingly, Isaiah goes naked to teach the Bible!

Recap: Forgetting and Not Remembering Your God (Isaiah 17-18). Remembering God in your situation makes all the difference in the world. God + Your (Anger or Greed or Lust or Loneliness, etc) = _________ + __________.

Questions for pondering and reflection:

  • How do you know if you trust God or not? Fear God or not (Isa 19:16-17)?
  • Are committed to God or to something else (Isa 19:18)?
  • Do you cry out to God (Isa 19:20) or demand from God?
  • If God “strikes” you is there healing (Isa 19:22) or bitterness?
  • Can you unite with those who are unlike you (Isa 19:23)?
  • Do you genuinely regard others as equals (Isa 19:24-25)?

 

Can the world be one? Isaiah’s oracle on Egypt shows that the God of Israel has something glorious in mind for the whole earth. Egypt is the first enslaver of the Lord’s people and their most memorable adversary. But Isaiah shows a truly magnificent view of regarding Egypt as “my people” (Isa 19:25). [This follows the vision of a remnant of both Gentiles and Israel being drawn to the Lord in Zion (Isa 18:7).] At the climax of the oracle (Isa 19:23-25), Isaiah links Egypt with Assyria, the contemporary oppressor. If these two can be brought into co-equality with Israel then the world will be one indeed!

  1. Egypt’s fall (19:1-15): Egypt smitten, collapsed, fallen and defeated because of her religion (1-4)–idolatry, resources (5-10)–Nile, and self-reliance (11-15)–human wisdom.
  2. Egypt’s restoration (19:16-25): Egypt saved, healed and converted.
  3. Egypt’s unreliability (20:1-6): Egypt is untrustworthy; she will be taken captive (20:1-6).

I. Egypt’s Fall (19:1-15)

  1. Social collapse (19:1-4).
  2. Economic collapse (19:5-10).
  3. Political collapse (19:11-15).

Relying on Egypt in a time of crisis was a constant temptation. With the disappearance of the northern states, Aram (732) and Israel (722), into the maw of Assyria, the political center of gravity in western Palestine moved south. At least from 715 onwards, Egypt was behind every anti-Assyrian movement. To Judah, an alliance with Egypt as a means of throwing off the Assyrian yoke and having national sovereignty was a constant temptation (ch. 28-31, 36-37). Isaiah resolutely opposed this, seeing Egypt as no help but only disaster (Isa 30:6-7). Thus, 19:1-15 is an attempt to dissuade them from trusting Egypt, based on the failure of her three prominent “strengths”: her longstanding idols/religion (1-4), her reliable natural resources, the Nile (5-10) and her ancient wisdom and supposedly “wise counselors” (11-15).

II. Egypt’s Restoration (19:16-25)

  1. Fear of God (19:16-17). Prov 1:7; 9:10.
  2. Allegiance to God (19:18). Speak the language of Canaan.
  3. True religion (19-22). Reconciliation.
  4. Unity in worship (23). No more alienation and separation.
  5. Co-equal with God (24-25). Israel, Egypt and Assyria are placed on par.

From judgment to redemption. 19:16-25 moves from judgment upon Egypt (19:1-15) to the most sweeping promises of redemption. It is marked by five repetitions of “in that day” (Isa 19:16, 18, 19, 23, 23) which makes it plain that these events will occur in the end times, or at the point where God takes decisive action in world events. These five segments seem to show a progression of thought from an Egypt terrorized by the very thought of Judah’s God (Isa 19:16-17) to an Egypt joining with Assyria and Israel in glad worship of God (Isa 19:23-25). These five thoughts illustrate in an ascending order Egypt’s coming allegiance to Yahweh.

Negative and positive reasons to not trust Egypt. 19:1-15 negates all the Egyptian attributes which might draw Judah to trust Egypt. 19:16-25 say that it is foolish for Judah to turn to Egypt when one day Egypt is going to turn to Judah’s God. They present the positive side to the point being made negatively in 19:1-15. This brings the whole argument to a fitting climax in a vision of all nations living in harmony because of their common submission to God (Isa 2:2-4).

Five marks of true religion. Reciprocity of relationship is the keynote (19:19-22). Prayer finds a response (Ia 19:20). Revelation leads to acknowledgment, worship and fidelity (Isa 19:21). Divine disciple leads to repentance and plea is answered in healing (Isa 19:22).

  1. Meeting with God (19-20a). The altar is the place of reconciliation (19-20a).
  2. Talking with God (20b). In prayer, the Egyptians are to have a speaking relationship with God.
  3. Knowing God (21a). True religion is not people searching for God but people responding to revelation by God.
  4. Making sacrifices and vows (21b). They will have both public expression and personal commitment.
  5. Turning to God (22). God’s purposeful discipline (hurt in order heal)–a part of life under God’s care (Prov 3:12)–causes penitents to turn to God in faith and trust God by receiving his disciplinary “wounding” love.

God’s purpose is to unite the world in his worship (Isa 19:23). True religion heals wounds between people. Spreading the kingdom of peace happens first with a few cities (Isa 19:18), then a whole country (Isa 19:19) and then the whole world (Isa 19:23). A highway–a favorite metaphor in Isaiah–is for the removal of alienation and separation (Isa 19:23; 11:16; 33:8; 35:8; 40:3; 49:11; 62:10).

Co-equality with one another (Isa 19:24-25). True acknowledgment of God begins with acknowledgment and submission to those who are already his people (Isa 19:16-17; 1 Cor 14:24-25). But the convert at once enjoys a co-equal membership. In a remarkable statement Isaiah applies terms previously restricted to Israel to both Egypt and Assyria. In Egypt the word once was “Let my people go” (Exo 5:1). But now Egypt is “my people” (Isa 19:25). Assyria is “my handiwork.” The point made is that if Israel turns to the nations in trust she will be prostituting her ministry to them. Instead, she is to be the vehicle whereby those very nations can turn to her God and become partners with her in service to God and enjoy his blessings.

True believers:

  1. Fear God (Isa 19:16-17).
  2. Pledge allegiance to God (Isa 19:18).
  3. Relate all of life to God (Isa 19:19-22).
  4. Unite with those unlike them (Isa 19:23).
  5. Regard others as equals (Isa 19:24-25).

III. Egypt’s Unreliability (20:1-6): The folly of trusting Egypt

This concludes Isaiah’s oracle against Egypt. Egypt was under judgment, and reliance on her was useless. As an example, he takes the city of Ashdod, the northernmost of the five great Philistine cities, about 33 miles west of Jerusalem and about 2-3 miles inland. The general background is the same as for 14:28-31: the Egyptian-backed Philistine revolt against Assyria in 713-711 BC, with Assyria crushing the revolt. Similarly Sargon destroyed Ashdod in 711. With Ashdod in ruins the revolt was effectively ended. Yamani, king of Ashdod, fled to Egypt. But the Egyptians cravenly handed Yamani over to Sargon, out of fear of his military might.

Egypt: One World, One People, One God(J. Alec Motyer, 2011)

  1. The Smiting of Egypt (19:1-15).
    1. Religious and social collapse (1-4)
    2. Economic collapse (5-10).
    3. Political collapse (11-13).
    4. Divine action (14-15).
  2. The Healing of Egypt (19:16-25).
    1. In that day (1): The fear of the Lord (16-17).
    2. In that day (2): One language, one Lord (18).
    3. In that day (3): True religion (19-22).
    4. In that day (4): The world in the harmony of worship (23).
    5. In that day (5): One world, one people, one Lord (24-25).
  3. Egypt: A Test Case, an Interim Assurance (20:1-6).

Egypt: One God, One World, One People(J. Alec Motyer, 1993, 1999)

  1. The smiting of Egypt predicted (19:1-15).
  2. The healing of Egypt (19:16-25).
  3. The smiting of Egypt exemplified: An interim fulfilment (20:1-6).

God’s Plans for Egypt (Gary Smith, 2007)

  1. God will defeat Egypt and her gods (19:1-15).
  2. Civil war (1-4).
  3. Economic disaster (5-10).
  4. Poor leadership (11-15).
  5. God will save Egypt; they will worship God (19:16-25).
  6. Egypt’s trials (16-17).
  7. God’s deliverance, Egypt’s revival (18-22).
  8. Egypt and Assyria will Worship God (23-25).
  9. Isaiah’s nakedness symbolizes Egypt’s defeat (20:1-6).

Judgment on Egypt (John Oswalt, 1986, 2003)

  1. Egypt has nothing to offer (19:1-24).
  2. Egypt’s might confounded (19:1-15). Prediction of Egypt’s fall.
  3. Egypt will come to Judah (19:16-25). Egypt’s coming worship of God.
  4. The folly of trusting Egypt (20:1-6). Certainty of Egypt’s judgment.

Concerning Egypt (19:1-25) (Barry Webb, 1996)

  1. Judgment (19:1-15).
  2. Salvation (19:16-25).
  3. Isaiah goes naked (20:1-6).

Egypt (19:1-25) (Derek Kidner, 1994)

  1. Egypt brought to its knees (19:1-15).
  2. Egypt converted (19:16-25).
  3. The Ashdod crisis (20:1-6).

Five Marks of True Religion (19:19-22):

  1. Reconciliation (Isa 19:19). Building an altar to God.
  2. Repose (Isa 19:20). Praying and speaking to God.
  3. Revelation (Isa 19:21a). God makes himself known.
  4. Response (Isa 19:21b). Acknowledging God, worship and making vows.
  5. Wholeness (Isa 19:22). Trusting God’s providence in striking and healing us.

Questions:

  1. What would the Egyptians be inclined to turn to in a crisis (Isa 19:1, 4)? What about America in a time of crisis? (Think of the aftermath of 9/11.) What does this say about us and our faith? [In both Canaan and Egypt the storm god was depicted as riding on a cloud (Isa 19:1). Egypt was easily the most idolatrous nation in the ancient Near East, only surpassed by modern Hinduism. At least twice in Egypt’s history a period of total political breakdown followed a period of absolute monarchy. Isa 19:2 seems to reflect knowledge of this tendency. At this time the ruling dynasty in Egypt were Ethiopians (Cushites).]
  2. What was the source of Egypt’s wealth and power (19:5-10)? What is going to happen to it? [As far as we know this prophecy was not literally fulfilled.] What is the enduring theological truth being taught here? Why should we not put our trust in natural abundance?
  3. What is the reason for trusting Egypt (19:11-15)? [Egypt was famous for its ancient wisdom. The first known collection of proverbs comes from Egypt (1900 BC?)] What will their wisdom be unable to tell them (Isa 19:12)? What should the proper attitude of Christians be toward their leaders? What should we do, and what should we not do?
  4. In 19:1–15 what are 3 reasons given why Judah might trust Egypt? What will they amount to? What is the lesson for us?
  5. How many times is “in that day” repeated (Isa 19:16, 18, 19, 23, 24)? What is the significance of this repeated phrase?
  6. What are 19:16–17 saying about the meaning of the historical events that are going to overtake Egypt?
  7. What are 19:18–25 saying about Egypt’s future? What does this say about the wisdom of trusting Egypt for deliverance from Assyria? What should the Judeans be doing in regards Egypt in the light of this message?
  8. Why would God ask Isaiah, who was apparently educated and cultured, to undergo such humiliation as this (Isa 20:2-3, 1-6)? [Ch. 20 tells us how little we know about the life of Isaiah. Evidently he had been wearing burlap (garment of mourning) for some time previous to 707, but then took even that off. It seems likely that he had on still a loincloth, but nothing else, imitating the dress of captives who were carried off into exile.] [The (Philistine) king of Ashdod fled to Egypt for protection in about 707 BC (Isa 20:1). But the Assyrians threatened Egypt and demanded that they give up the Philistine, which they did. So much for Egypt’s protection.]
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