Ethiopia and Egypt
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Isaiah
19. An expository study in Isaiah, chapter 18 - 20
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| Ancient Cush or Ethiopia superimposed on modern map |
Ethiopia,
land of “whirring wings”
At the end of the last chapter, we learned of the
color and rhythm of God’s literature, so effective because it provokes our
thoughts, moves our emotions and even stirs our imagination. It is more than
accurate information. We have entire books of poetry and song in God’s Word,
the Bible; in fact, we have a whole section, from Job to Song of Solomon, given
to poetry. The prophets, as well, sometimes with a direct, “thus says the
Lord”, embellish their works with poetry. Now this chapter begins to describe
Ethiopia, “land of whirring wings” (v.1).
The first word, an interjection, is either a word to
bring the reader to attention, or may be, a word of warning. In the case of a
warning, it would have the same effect as a title, containing “the burden or
oracle”, as we have seen at the beginning of previous chapters (see notes on
ch. 15, 16, 17). It is directed towards the land by the rivers of Cush or
Ethiopia.
The expression whirring
wings is not only colorful, it is also complicated, as to its meaning. It
seems to refer to the shadow or the sound of wings, both of which would
describe the invasion of a swarm of locusts. Certainly Ethiopia could be
described as a land of locusts, but also, as in verse 2, it is a land of
papyrus vessels, so the expression may in some way refer to those boats. We
will have to just leave it at that and go on. The land was closely connected to
and associated with Egypt in the days of Isaiah.
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| Boats made from papyrus reed |
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| Writing on papyrus |
We will return to the Ethiopians later, but again, the
prophecy turns toward Judah. We saw a flag raised for the mustering of the
Medes and Persians against Babylon (chapter 13:2) and here a flag is raised to
gather the Assyrian armies together. The world’s attention will be focused on
it from the moment they go on the attack and will hear the moment the war
trumpet sounds (v.3). It will gain recognition over the known world, because
they are destined to become world conquerors.
God’s
perfect timing
The Lord God spoke personally to Isaiah concerning
Himself and shared with Him His own involvement in this prophecy. Be assured
that He is looking upon the plans of the Ethiopians from His dwelling place. “I will look from My dwelling place quietly” (v.4), as He often seems to
do, but do not mistake His quietness for indifference. Many ignore Him due to
this characteristic of His personality and might even come to a conclusion that
He is non-existent. That proves to be a huge mistake.
As the plan unfolds, He waits, as the dazzling heat
and the cloud of dew. The sun continues to shine down and the dew continues to
moisten the earth, then suddenly and with perfect timing, he intervenes before
the harvest… in other words before the completion of the plan. He spoils the
fruit that has formed, pruning it and destroying the harvest (v.5).
Those who planted do not reap and the fruit is left
for the animals and the birds (v.6). The analogy not only tells us of the
defeat of the purposes of these enemies, but also the defeat and slaughter of
its armies. God has protected His own and those of the invaders, who become
aware of His intervention, bring homage. In the last chapter, we saw the
Moabites in this exact position. This was Rahab’s position in Jericho and it is
the position, in which every sinner finds himself humbled under the mighty hand
of God. The plans of the individual are spoiled and he becomes aware of the
invisible Creator becoming active in his life. This is a depiction of Saul of
Tarsus and the early Christians. God protected the church by arresting the
persecutor and converting him into the Apostle Paul at great, personal loss… in
his own words, “the loss of all things” (Phil.3:8).
Here are the same people as in verse two, the
Ethiopians, “tall and smooth… feared far
and wide, a powerful and oppressive nation, whose land the rivers divide.” They are surrendering and coming to Jerusalem
to Mount Zion to pay homage to the Lord of Hosts (v.7). God’s purposes are redemptive
throughout the Bible to the end of time; through the Great Tribulation and the
Millennium, people are converted. God gives His word and calls to the nations,
by written invitation, to come to Him: “They
have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them” (Lk.16:29). While He calls
to these strangers, He also comforts His people through His word.
Chapter 19
Moving
north to Egypt
Above Ethiopia was Egypt and the oracle of the Lord
continues to invade this part of the world to the southwest of Israel, within
the continent of Africa. Egypt was founded by another grandson of Noah and son
of Ham, Mizraim. The Lord’s “swift
cloud” is depicted at times in
the Psalms, and upon it Jesus Christ will return in glory for judgment. It drifts north from Ethiopia to cover
Egypt and the Egyptian gods are the first to become aware of His presence. As
in the time of Christ, the demons knew him, if the people did not. The spirits
of “the idols of Egypt will tremble at
His presence” (v.1). Then the hearts or the spirits of the people become
God-conscious, but it is not a welcome visitation.
The downfall of a civilization is due to its spiritual
condition. The confusion of civil war breaks out (v.2), as various factions,
with Ethiopia also involved, struggle for superiority. Depression becomes a
national plague. Human strategies of war fail and the leaders resort to
spiritism and superstition (v.3). The proud Egyptians, the earliest of the
world’s civilizations, lose their sovereignty and independence, and a cruel and
mighty king gains prominence and rules over them. In the middle of the Seventh
Century B.C., Assyria begins a foreign invasion (v.4).
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| Papyrus reeds |
The important fishing industry, with hooks and nets,
comes to a halt and we see those employed adding to the depression upon the
country… “the fishermen will lament…
will mourn… pine away” (v.8). The flax and cotton production is also
effected by the drought and the clothing industry suffers, so the weavers and
also the common hired laborers go into unemployment and join the emotional
collapse (v.9,10).
The prophecy goes to the top level of society to show the
downfall of leadership (v.11). This became evident in Israel as their Old
Testament history came to a close. The ruling class, the kings, princes,
priests and prophets became foolish, deceived and totally false. It would seem
that we are entering today into an era of international stupidity, void of
authentic leadership. The stupidity has not overlooked the religious world
either.
Ancient Egypt’s legendary Pharaohs, reported to be sons
of the gods, are a lost part of history, and the wise men, at one time led by
Joseph, are no more (v.12). Joseph could tell Pharaoh the things that the Lord
was bringing upon the country in his day. As always, God’s representatives are
the salt and light of the earth, and all the world profits from their
influence. In Isaiah’s time, the principle cities, Zoan and Memphis, are
without wise counsel (v.13).
The land is under delusion, which is here called a
spirit of distortion. Please, do take the word spirit literally. The prophet is not using a figure of speech. The
spirit world influences the physical world and, in fact, controls it. Here we
have demons of delusion, distortion and stupidity. It is a country of spiritual
drunkards with distorted views, which might be called perversion. In other
words, they have lost their common sense (v.14). The foundations are broken
down and there is no remedy: “If the
foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Ps.11:3). When the
moral principles of society are broken down, the righteous go into
unemployment! (v.15)
The Egyptians lose their courage and become cowards
(v.16) and once again it is called to our attention that this is a work of God.
It is divine invasion; He has come in, riding on a swift cloud and we are
looking at the consequences. He is also King over His land and from that land
comes the fear of God upon Egypt. We are about to see something new take place
(v.17). In fact, this prophecy extends to another day and it is left for us to
see that it was not fulfilled during the times of the Assyrian or the
Babylonian invasions, or at any other time, but we look ahead to another day.
Egypt
is brought into the millennial reign
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| Map showing Heliopolis and Memphis |
From center to circumference, the nation of Egypt
worships the Lord (v.19). There will be an altar and a pillar, probably
figurative, that will serve the land, as one day in the distant past, the blood
upon the doorposts saved their captives from death. The Lord will see the
pillar and the altar and will save Egypt from their oppressors (v.20). The
Egyptians will know God, they will worship by the sacrifice and offering of
Christ and walk in His will (v.21).
Egypt is smitten in verses 16 and 17 and then healed in
the verses that follow. There will be national repentance and forgiveness
(v.22). We learned in an earlier chapter of two entry points, as the Jews
return to their land from Assyria and Egypt (11:15,16). Here we have this same
highway mentioned again with more detail in verse 23. In this portion, we see
the inter-commerce between the three countries with brotherly harmony. It’s a
beautiful depiction, particularly because they are situated as a “blessing in the midst of the earth” (v.24)… in God’s eye, that is, it is the
center of the planet, the throne room of the cosmos, three countries living
together in perfect peace. It ought
to make us long for the thousand-year reign of Christ: “Whom the Lord of hosts has blessed, saying, ‘Blessed be Egypt my
people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel my inheritance” (v.25).
Chapter 20
The
disgrace of the two African defenders
Because this short chapter also points to Egypt and
Ethiopia, we will only look briefly at it. It describes one event, which took
place, and reference is made to the history, the king and the places involved.
It has to do with Sargon II, the king of Assyria, and he fought against Ashdod,
a Philistine city, in 711 B.C. (v.1).
Isaiah became a human parable here, commanded by God
to strip off his outer garments, as a sign of mourning and shame (v.2). The
Lord was warning the Egyptians and Ethiopians that captivity was near at hand
for them. Sargon would lead them away in disgrace, hopeless and humbled, old and
young, as their countries are defeated (v.3-5). These were the strong defenders of that
territory and other, weaker lands, especially the Philistines, I suppose, were
lamenting their defeat: Behold, this is
what has happened to those in whom we hope and to whom we fled for help to be
delivered from the king of Assyria! And we, how shall we escape?” (v.6). God
shows again and again to the inhabitants of the earth, the utter folly in
looking for help and putting their trust in fellow human beings. He is the God
of all the earth and alone is worthy of our trust. It's a good point to meditate upon as we end this article.
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