Season 6, Podcast 72, Isaiah 19:1-25, “Redemption of Egypt and Assyria.”Episode

Season 6, Podcast 72, Isaiah 19:1-25, “Redemption of Egypt and Assyria.”

Egypt has played an extraordinary role in Biblical history. On the positive side, during a killing famine it became a sanctuary for the House of Israel, particularly during the days of Joseph who saved both Egypt and his father’s house from starvation. It was a sanctuary for Abraham. It was a sanctuary for Mary and Joseph and the child Jesus during Herod’s reign of terror. With all that, we remember Egypt for its cruelty to the House of Israel for hundreds of years until they were miraculously delivered by the hand of God through his servant Moses.

Assyria also played devil’s advocate with the House of Israel. As we have recently read, Assyria destroyed Ephraim, meaning the ten northern tribes of Israel. They dispersed the ten northern tribes throughout Assyria which led to their final scattering through all parts of the earth, becoming known as the Ten Lost Tribes. In addition, they attacked the House of Judah and Bejamin in the south causing tremendous devastation. 

And now suddenly we read, in the prophetic words of Isaiah, that both Egypt and Assyria shall be redeemed of the Lord and shall become in close bonds to the House of Israel. Only a true prophet could have foreseen such an outcome, for both Egypt and Assyria will first suffer nearly total annihilation because of their wickedness. 

The restoration will occur during the period of the Second Coming of the Messiah and the Millennium. 

Isaiah 19 is divided into two parts. Part I tells of the vast destruction of Egypt in which the evil empire is destroyed before a righteous empire can take its place. Part II tells of the restoration of both Egypt and Assyria. They become righteous and live in harmony and close bonds with the Twelve Tribes of Israel who will be restored to their homeland in the last days.

Let us first look at the destruction of the old empire of Egypt. The destruction must occur in which Egypt is cleansed from all its wickedness before a righteous regime can even exist. 

That is the object lesson. That is the message of Isaiah 19. All wickedness must be destroyed before righteousness can prevail. It is a type of the Second coming of Christ. When he comes, the entire world will be cleansed from all its wickedness. Only the righteous will survive, and Christ will reign 1000 years. 

Isaiah 19:1

The burden of Egypt. Behold, the Lord rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it.

One of Egypt’s primary sins was idol worship. Even the Pharaohs were worshipped as gods. The image of the Lord riding upon a swift cloud suggests that the fall of Egypt will, like the fall of Babylon, happen very quickly. It will strike at the very heart of Egypt. If the heart dies, Egypt dies.

It will be followed by massive civil war.

Isaiah 19:2

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.

They will lose their spirit, meaning they will lose their will.

Isaiah 19: 3

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.

The above refers to the moral corruption. For thousands of years Egypt was governed by Pharaohs who were looked on as Gods. They built the ancient pyramids which guaranteed eternal life. When those are destroyed they seek counsel from those, in Isaiah’s words, who peep and mutter. They seek to idols, charmers, spiritualists, and wizards. That is a pitiful display of hopelessness.