Fear No Fear

(All scripture from Lexham English Bible, Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software)

Continuing the outside Israel trend, this section speaks to the judgment on the nations around them. Damascus, Egypt, Ethiopia, Babylon, Edom, and Arabia. Some are first timers, some are additional prophesy. The Lord is merciful and you will see prophesy after prophesy for people and nations. He is warning. He is giving them a chance. Those that turn to Him are saved. Those that do not are not. It is their choice – as it is ours today (John 3:16-18). These prophecies also show God is just. All people who do not turn back to Him (and they ALL once had knowledge of Him) will face judgment. They also show Israel that God is their only hope. What point is there in hiding from judgment in Egypt when Egypt is also going to be judged (Jeremiah 43-46)? How can you get help from a city or a king to lift you out of your judgment if they are also going to be judged? But also, if those used to judge you do not do it God’s way (mercifully), they will bear a judgment of their own. Prophecies can be looked at as doom and gloom. They can also be looked at as mercy, warning, and a call to get real with God. Those that pay attention benefit. Those that ignore? They do not.

Damascus would cease to be a city, turning into a ruinous heap (2 Kings 16:1-9). Both it and the northern kingdom of Israel would be destroyed. But there would be those who would look to God their Maker, turning back to the Holy One of Israel (Jesus). They would not put their trust in idols and incense altars, but recognizing God’s hand in the judgment, would forsake their rebellion and turn back to Him. The judgment was only coming because they had forsaken the Rock of their stronghold (Jesus). No matter how the unrepentant would try to stand, they would fall. Only those who were true worshippers would make it through.

The land beyond the rivers of Ethiopia would be judged [there is no consensus as to which nation this actually is]. The inhabitants are tall and powerful. They are also terrible, and have been ‘from the beginning’. But the pruner (Yahweh) would cut them off before their bloom and take away the branches (John 15:1-8). They would be desolate and at the mercy of wild animals (possibly demonic powers – they are often symbolized with birds of prey and wild animals). Then they would bring a present to the Lord of Hosts (Jesus) in Zion – the physical city or the spiritual reality, it isn’t clear. But at least some of the residents of this nation would acknowledge that God is God – though it doesn’t mention true repentance, only acknowledgement. That’s a BIG difference.

The prophesy about Egypt contains language that could be said to have come to pass in its history. But there is also language that has not. Egypt, Israel, and Assyria (possibly Lebanon) have not yet come together as allies, joined under the blessing of God. There is a future fulfillment of this chapter yet to come. Civil war in Egypt seems to be the catalyst for change. Their idols and occult practices will be of no help to them. The civil war will lead to a cruel leader. The great river will dry up. It will devastate the country and its economy. All society will be affected, not just the poor. But in their desolation, they will turn to the Lord (Jesus). They will join with Israel and Assyria in worship of the Lord. The Lord will then heal their land. They will have open relationship with these nations that were once their enemies. They will be unified under the Lord.

The year that the king of Assyria sent Tartan to fight against Ashdod, the Lord had Isaiah walk around naked and barefoot – showing total shame. Nudity was considered a great disgrace. But God needed the people to see the full picture. He needed them to see that Assyria would take away the people of Egypt and Ethiopia as captives. They would be shamed by this king. Israel would witness this humbling of major powers. Israel needed to understand they had no chance of escaping their own judgment. If big national players couldn’t, they couldn’t. Repentance was their only hope of survival at all. Jesus was there as their Hope, if only they would turn back to Him.

Babylon was a world power. A great and mighty nation. They were seemingly unconquerable. But the Lord spoke against them. For their lack of mercy in enacting God’s judgment, they would themselves be judged – this is just what happened to Egypt in Moses’ time. The Medes and Persians (identified in Isaiah 21:7) would do it. During a night of pleasure, they would fall in a day (Daniel 5). Yet there is also future fulfillment in the fall of Babylon (Revelation 14, 18, & 21). The Lion of Judah (Jesus) would strike them down.

Edom and Arabia would also fall. The watchman (Jesus) was crying for them to look out and return to Him. Many fled to them to be safe, but the Lord said that within a year the glory of Kedar (a son of Ishmael – Genesis 25:13) would fail. There was no safety in anyone but the Watchman.

Summary

Key Players: God, Jesus, Isaiah

Key Verse(s): Isaiah 17:1-3, 7-8; 18:5-7; 19:19-22; 20:3-6; 21:5-7