Saturday, January 16, 2016

Dealing with the phrase “at that time” in Isaiah 19:16 -25 519-1 - 8 - 2

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.”
This passage brought to mind Ezekiel 1:4, “And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire.” God in a great cloud, here the throne of God.
But I digress, when Isaiah uses the phase “At that time” God is referring to future events. Daily we are witness to many of these predictions coming true.
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.”
The removal of long-standing Arab/ Muslim leaders such as Hosni Mubarak of Egypt gave rise to Islamic warring groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt.
Isaiah 19:16, “In that day shall Egypt be like unto women: and it shall be afraid and fear because of the shaking of the hand of the LORD of hosts, which he shaketh over it.”
Egypt experienced desolation and deportation in the past, however, I find future shaking by the hand of the Lord to be rather confusing. It is my understanding that in Psalm 83 Israel as the chosen of God gains the victory by their hand rather than “The shaking of the hand of the LORD of hosts”. Of course, any time Israel is victorious, the glory goes to God.
Isaiah 19:17, “And the land of Judah shall be a terror unto Egypt, every one that maketh mention thereof shall be afraid in himself, because of the counsel of the LORD of hosts, which he hath determined against it.”
Likely dealing with the fulfillment of Psalm 83 concerning the “Inner Ring” of Israel’s enemies. After the defeat of these inner ring countries by Israel, she will be living in security and in un-walled villages. That is until the fulfillment of the Gog Magog war.
Jeremiah 33:15, “In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land.”
Eventually the remnant of Egypt and her enemy the Assyrians will experience conversion and live in peace with Israel. However, I would expect that this is after the tribulation and the reign of Jesus as the “Branch of righteousness” on earth.
Isaiah 19:24-25, “24, In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land: 25,  Whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance.”
Full disclosure, I still don’t understand the nuances of these scriptures, perhaps someday.

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