Recently, a friend asked me for my take on Egypt and if there was any connection to Isaiah Chapter 19. After giving him a casual response, I decided to take a closer look.
Isaiah Chapters 13-23 contain burdens (judgments or prophecies) about several nations in the Middle East. Although some of these prophecies have already been partially fulfilled, it is quite clear that some of them have a more complete future fulfillment.
For example, Isaiah Chapters 13 and 14 are a prophecy aboutBabylon. History adequately records the partial fulfillment of these prophecies. But it is quite obvious that some of them won’t be completely fulfilled until the end of the age (examples includeIsaiah 13:6-16, 19-23). They actually prophesy future things aboutBabylon that are found in the Book of Revelation (Rev. 18:2).
Also, Isaiah Chapter 17 is a prophecy about Syria. This chapter says, “Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap” (Isaiah 17:1). It says, “And behold at eveningtide trouble; and before the morning he is not. This is the portion of them that spoil us, and the lot of them that rob us” (Isaiah 17:14).Many writers believe this means Damascus (in Syria) will cease to exist in one night and it will never be rebuilt. If they are right, the prophecy must have a future fulfillment because, even thoughDamascus has been destroyed in the past, it has always been rebuilt.
Isaiah Chapter 19 is a prophecy about Egypt. Some think it may apply to the events that are going on now. Isaiah 19:1a reads, “The burden of Egypt. Behold, the LORD rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt.” God will move into Egypt like a fast moving cloud or there will be a rapid movement of God in Egypt.
Isaiah 19:1b reads, “And the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it.” The appearance of the Lord in Israel will terrify Israel’s false gods and idols and the people will be helpless before the Lord.
Isaiah 19:2 reads, “And I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians: and they shall fight every one against his brother, and every one against his neighbour; city against city, and kingdom against kingdom.” The Lord will set Egyptians against Egyptians. Civil strife and violence will break out and spread in Egypt: Brothers will fight brothers; Neighbors will fight neighbors; Cities will fight cities; and Kingdoms will fight kingdoms. There have already been reports about Hamas troops from Gaza entering Egyptto fight with the Muslim Brotherhood in their struggle against the Egyptian government. Some even believe this could spread into other conflicts involving Israel such as Ezek. 38-39 or perhaps Psalm 83. Some in Egypt are already calling for a cancellation of the Camp David Accords, war with Israel, closing the Suez Canaland more.
Isaiah 19:3 reads, “And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof; and I will destroy the counsel thereof: and they shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards.” Egyptians will be overcome with fear, lack wisdom, and turn to false gods, idolatry and evil spirits.
Isaiah 19:4 reads, “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.” God will allow a cruel leader to rise to power in Egypt. Those who want to replace Pres. Mubarak may get worse than they wanted.
Isaiah 19:5-10 refers to the rivers and brooks drying up. These depend upon the Aswan Dam something that some Israeli leaders have said should be bombed if war breaks out.
Isaiah 19: 15 reads, “Neither shall there be any work for Egypt, which the head or tail, branch or rush, may do.” Unemployment will spread.
Isaiah 19:16-17 read, “In that day 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 ofJudah shall be a terror unto Egypt, every one that maketh mention thereof shall be afraid in himself, because of the counsel of the LORD of hosts, which he hath determined against it.” “In that day” is a phrase that refers to the end of the age. It appears six times in the last ten verses and often refers to future events. In the future, fear will grip the Egyptians because of the shaking of the hand of the Lord. Egypt will be afraid of Judah or Israel because the judgment of God will be upon the Egyptians. Some think Ezekiel 38-39/Psalm 83 may come into play here.
Isaiah 19:18 reads, “In that day shall five cities in the land of Egyptspeak the language of Canaan, and swear to the LORD of hosts; one shall be called, The city of destruction.” The people in five Egyptian cities will speak Hebrew and worship Jehovah, but one will probably be destroyed.
Isaiah 19:19-22 reveal the mercy and grace of God. Many Egyptians will turn to the Lord. They will offer Him sacrifices, give Him gifts, serve Him and God will heal their land. This seems to extend into the Millennium.
Isaiah 19:23-25 reads, “In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians. 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.” A highway will be built from Egypt through Israel and into Syria, and the three nations will serve the Lord. Since this has never happened before, it must have a future fulfillment and that will probably be during the Millennium.
It remains to be seen if this is what is going on in Egypt today. But God’s people need to be ready for anything. If civil strife grows inEgypt, the price of oil, food and everything else could go through the roof. And the fulfillment of other significant prophecies might not be very far behind.
Prophecy Plus Ministries
Daymond & Rachel Duck