Judgment of Egypt

Topic: Judgment
Passage: Isaiah 19:1–15

June 7, 2020

Commentary

This passage begins one of Isaiah’s most unusual prophecies in that it is both a message of judgment and blessing that is to come upon Egypt. Judgment was to come to Egypt from the Lord. God is pictured as riding on a swift cloud (v. 1). He was the true giver of rain (not Baal) which was something Egypt would sorely need. This judgment brought internal despair and division among the people (v. 2). They try to get advice from their idols and fortunetellers (v. 3). God says He will put them under the power of a cruel, heartless king (v. 4).

The river (v. 5) undoubtedly refers to the Nile. A drought would ruin the economy. The people depended on the annual flooding of the Nile over the fields to enrich the soil. With the drying up of the Nile, every sown field would wilt (vv. 6-7) and the fishermen using either hooks or nets would not be able to pursue their livelihood (v. 8). This was true of those who derived their income from working with flax, which depended on water for its growth. The cloth makers and weavers will not know what to do (vv. 9-10). In other words, the entire economy depended on the Nile River. The king’s officials give stupid advice (vv. 11-13). The Lord has confused Egypt and its leaders stagger in their vomit like a drunkard and no man can do anything, no matter who they are (vv. 14-15). Foolish confidence in one’s own wisdom leads not only to failure but also causes others to follow a pathway to disaster.

Application

Even though the princes and counselors were noted for their wisdom, they were deceived and foolish. True wisdom only comes from God.  It is easy for me to become confused about some decision I need to make. I need to ask God to guide me or I will be uncertain and misdirected.

Isaiah 19:1– 15 (NET)

1 This is an oracle about Egypt: Look, the Lord rides on a swift-moving cloud and approaches Egypt. The idols of Egypt tremble before him; the Egyptians lose their courage.

2 “I will provoke civil strife in Egypt: brothers will fight with one another, as will neighbors, cities, and kingdoms.

3 The Egyptians will panic, and I will confuse their strategy. They will seek guidance from the idols and from the spirits of the dead, from the pits used to conjure up underworld spirits, and from the magicians.

4 I will hand Egypt over to a harsh master; a powerful king will rule over them,” says the Sovereign Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

5 The water of the sea will be dried up, and the river will dry up and be empty.

6 The canals will stink; the streams of Egypt will trickle and then dry up; the bulrushes and reeds will decay,

7 along with the plants by the mouth of the river. All the cultivated land near the river will turn to dust and be blown away.

8 The fishermen will mourn and lament; all those who cast a fishhook into the river, and those who spread out a net on the water’s surface will grieve.

9 Those who make clothes from combed flax will be embarrassed; those who weave will turn pale.

10 Those who make cloth will be demoralized; all the hired workers will be depressed.

11 The officials of Zoan are nothing but fools; Pharaoh’s wise advisers give stupid advice. How dare you say to Pharaoh, “I am one of the sages, one well-versed in the writings of the ancient kings?”

12 But where, oh where, are your wise men? Let them tell you, let them find out what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has planned for Egypt.

13 The officials of Zoan are fools, the officials of Memphis are misled; the rulers of her tribes lead Egypt astray.

14 The Lord has made them undiscerning; they lead Egypt astray in all she does, so that she is like a drunk sliding around in his own vomit.

15 Egypt will not be able to do a thing, head or tail, shoots or stalk.