Bible Commentaries
Isaiah 19

Verses 1-25

1. Intro:
   1. God is again seen as concerned w/all nations!
      1. Especially longing for them to turn to Him.
      2. He is in control of the rise & fall of all nations!
   2. A number of people in Judah advised the king to get help from Egypt against the mighty Assyrians.
      1. Read Is.31:1-3
      2. Isaiah warns them here…“believe me, they won’t be able to help!”
2. EGYPT! (Ch.19)
   1. ​​​​​​​DISCOURAGED! (1)
   2. The Lord riding a swift cloud - speaks of judgment!
   3. Hearts melting – discouragement. (Ps.119:28)
   4. DIVIDED! (2)
   5. Forsees an impending ivil War.
   6. DEMONIC COUNSEL! (3)
   7. DOMINATION! (4)
   8. The mighty Nile & its tributaries dry up & cause many problems.
   9. DROUGHT! (5-7)
      1. This drought creates a stench(6,7).
   10. ECONOMIC DESPAIR! (8-10)
   11. Continued affects of the drought.
       1. It affects the Fisherman(8).
       2. It affects the Garment Industry(9) [because water is needed to grow flax, which is used to make linen].
       3. Egypt’s whole economy would be destroyed(10).
   12. DELUDED FOOLS! (11-15)
   13. So a nation that would be: Discouraged, Divided, relying on Demonic counsel, Dominated by another country, & in economic Despair…“How are they going to help you?”
       1. ​​​​​​​By Deluded Fools? Oh, I mean by their wise counsel!!! – “Oh!”
       2. They were known for their “wise guys”! – They prided themselves on their learning & wisdom.
          1. 1 Kings 4:30 “Thus Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the men of the East and all the wisdom of Egypt.”
       3. God’s people get their wisdom from God, not from the world.
       4. James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God,”
       5. Q: Today, who are the world’s counselors? – Dr. Phil; Laura Schlesinger; Oprah?
       6. Q: Does your own education ever get in the way because of pride?
   14. (14,15) The wisdom of Egypt would lead them into overwhelming & humiliating defeat.
   15. So, once again…“How was Egypt going to be your deliverer?”
3. ​​​​​​​CONVERSION OF EGYPT! (16-25)
   1. Now let’s look out into the future(mill.), what does God have in store for both Egyptians & Jews?
      1. The situation will be reversed. (Egypt will turn to Israel for help!)
   2. (16,17) Q: When is fear a good thing? (When it is the beginning of hope! – As it was for Egypt!)
      1. Q: What place does fear have in the Christian experience?
         1. Wrong fear = fear of circumstances & situations.
         2. Healthy fear = of God, sin, etc.
      2. Look at Egypt’s response to fear!
         1. (18) Submission (even learning Hebrew)
         2. (19) Worship
         3. (23) Fellowship
         4. (24,25) Acceptance w/in the family of God.
   3. (20) When they cry out to God, He will listen & become their Savior & Champion & Deliverer.
   4. (21) They’ll worship with “memorial” sacrifices.
   5. (22) Remember I said God is longing for the nations to turn to Him.
      1. Here in verses 22 & 25 we see that more than ever!
      2. Strike & heal? – Isn’t that what a doctors shot is all about? Spanking a babies rear?
   6. (23) No longer battle each other but visit one another on God’s Highway!
   7. (24) Here we see another example of Abraham’s great promise being fulfilled regarding “all the peoples of the earth will be blessed through him” (i.e. his descendants).
   8. Now wait a minute, before we tackle ch.20’s short chapter. Wasn’t “going down into Egypt a problem a little earlier with Israel?”
      1. During their wilderness wanderings, the people wanted to go back!
         1. God would not permit it!
         2. See Ex.13:17.
      2. Here Isaiah warned against it. Jeremiah warned against it(42,43)
      3. The book of Hebrews warns against “going back in unbelief” but to “go forward in faith”!
         1. Heb.6:1 “let us go on to perfection,”