Blessed be Egypt my people, Assyria my handiwork, and Israel my inheritance.
I’m working through Isaiah at the moment or better still, Isaiah is working its way through me.
There are those familiar passages we like to read—Isaiah’s encounter with God in the temple; the promise of the Servant-Messiah; the reassurances to fear not for God has redeemed us.
I’m also reading the in-between bits and learning how God deals with his people and the nations of the world. It’s disturbing and unsettling.
When God judges Judah for its proud rebellion, Isaiah cries out,
“For how long, O Lord?” The Lord answers: “Until the cities lie ruined and without inhabitant, until the houses are left deserted and the fields ruined and ravaged, until the LORD has sent everyone far away and the land is utterly forsaken. (Isa 6:11-12)
God will bring the Assyrian empire down on upon his people Judah their devastation will be complete. The Assyrians were brutal conquerers. Yet God declares that Assyria is the rod of his anger, the club of his wrath (Isa 10:5). God will use Assyria to judge his people who have broken the covenant and forsaken him.
When the Lord has finished all his work against Mount Zion and Jerusalem, he will judge the Assyrians,
I will punish the king of Assyria for the willful pride of his heart and the haughty look in his eyes. For he says: “'By the strength of my hand I have done this, and by my wisdom, because I have understanding. I removed the boundaries of nations, I plundered their treasures; like a mighty one I subdued their kings. (Isa 10:12-13)
Facing the Assyrian threat, Judah thinks perhaps an alliance with Egypt will protect us. That was a false hope, as God will also judge the Egyptians.
I will stir up Egyptian against Egyptian—brother will fight against brother, neighbor against neighbor, city against city, kingdom against kingdom. The Egyptians will lose heart, and I will bring their plans to nothing; they will consult the idols and the spirits of the dead, the mediums and the spiritists. I will hand the Egyptians over to the power of a cruel master, and a fierce king will rule over them,” declares the Lord, the LORD Almighty. (Isa 19:2-4)
Judah cannot put their trust in military alliances for God will judge the nations and cities surrounding them—Cush, Philistia, Moab, Damascus, Babylon, Tyre.
It’s a sorry tale of God’s judgment in history. For what purpose? Here’s what Gary Smith says:
God brings destruction on proud people who do not trust God (2:6-21; 3:16–4:1; 9:8; 10:5-15). They will be humbled and the glorious things that these people were so proud of will be removed.
God desires to be compassionate to those who trust him, and he will eventually gather Hebrews and many other people from various nations to Jerusalem to enjoy his kingdom (2:1-5; 4:2-6; 9:1-7: 11:1-16; 14:1-2).
God has the future planned for each nation, and there is no doubt that every historical event will work out to fulfill his purposes (14:24-27).
The Lord will make himself known to rebellious people through judgment followed by mercy.
In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. The Assyrians will go to Egypt and the Egyptians to Assyria. The Egyptians and Assyrians will worship together. In that day Israel will be the third, along with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing on the earth. The LORD Almighty will bless them, saying, “Blessed be Egypt my people, Assyria my handiwork, and Israel my inheritance.” (Isa 19:23-25)
Isaiah sees a day of salvation coming, for Israel and the nations. Egypt and Assyria will be his people, just like Israel.
