Feb 7, 2019
Discipline and mercy. Wrath and love. Judgment and justice. Rebuking and restoration. The Bible is full of paradoxes that make us shake our head in confusion. Throughout the entire book, we see God presented in ways that appear contradictory and difficult to reconcile. And in these last few chapters of Isaiah, there has been a steady stream of oracles warning of God’s pending judgment against the nations. And yet, in Isaiah 19:16-25, we will hear God say some strikingly different things to Egypt than He did in the first 15 verses. In fact, this portion of the chapter presents a somewhat surprising scene that features Egypt receiving healing from the hand of God. And the Egyptian people responding in praise, adoration and worship. Obviously, these things have not yet happened. There are no altars to the God of Israel in Egypt at this time. But Isaiah describes a day in which the worship of Israel’s God will be commonplace. And many of the other nations mentioned in these oracles will worship God alongside the Egyptians. God will judge the nations, but He will also restore a remnant from among the nations representing every tribe, nation and tongue.