Oracle Concerning Ethiopia

INTRO:

AG: Doomsday clock

Remember the Doomsday Clock?

The Doomsday Clock is a design that warns the public about how close we are to destroying our world with dangerous technologies of our own making. It is a metaphor, a reminder of the perils we must address if we are to survive on the planet.

Today, we are at It is 100 seconds to midnight as of 1/2022

TS: Isaiah now addresses Cush, which is the Hebrew name for Ethiopia.

This country was South of Egypt and included territory which is still in modern Ethiopia.

RS:

1. Ethiopia, the Strong Nation

Isaiah 18:1–4 ESV

Ah, land of whirring wings that is beyond the rivers of Cush, which sends ambassadors by the sea, in vessels of papyrus on the waters! Go, you swift messengers, to a nation tall and smooth, to a people feared near and far, a nation mighty and conquering, whose land the rivers divide. All you inhabitants of the world, you who dwell on the earth, when a signal is raised on the mountains, look! When a trumpet is blown, hear! For thus the Lord said to me: “I will quietly look from my dwelling like clear heat in sunshine, like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.”

It is widely feared for its mighty power to destroy other nations.

The whirring wings:

may refer to Ethiopia’s strong armada of ships

Or to flurry of activity

They were energetic and sought out diplomatic relations as well as conquered.

Here, it is said they reach out up and down the Nile seeking allies and associations.

All were to be alert to the Signal from God.

He was aware and looking at the world

He awaits the proper time to intervene

This impacts all Earth including Ethiopia

AP: God is still Waiting

Regardless of our nation’s or individual strengths, God is in charge

He has a set time for the final judgment and nothing we do will make it happen sooner or push back the date.

In human terms we do influence events around us

Enough humans can change history:

Think of our founding fathers. Not a large group of men, yet they lit a fire which grew to be a nation.

In spite of the actions of humanity, God’s time table and ultimate plan moves inevitably onward.

There is comfort in that knowledge!

2. Ethiopia, the Stricken Nation

Isaiah 18:5–6 ESV

For before the harvest, when the blossom is over, and the flower becomes a ripening grape, he cuts off the shoots with pruning hooks, and the spreading branches he lops off and clears away. They shall all of them be left to the birds of prey of the mountains and to the beasts of the earth. And the birds of prey will summer on them, and all the beasts of the earth will winter on them.

God Himself will cut down Ethiopian armies as they as they plan to destroy Jerusalem.

He will act like a man pruning his vineyard

As a wise farmer, God prunes nations. He removes what needs removing and encourages growth for what needs to grow.

Proverbs 14:34 ESV

Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.

Job 12:23 ESV

He makes nations great, and he destroys them; he enlarges nations, and leads them away.

God is in ultimate control and judges nations today, just as He did in ancient times.

AP: God’s control brings about His plans

As we read prophesy, we often wonder how things could turn out that way given the conditions of the world.

Remember when the iron curtain fell and the USSR broke apart?

We saw Russia as not longer as great of a threat. Cooperation began and even continues today in Space.

In spite of that, there are prophesies which seem to speak of an aggressive Russia and a future invasion aimed at Israel

Now, we see Russia again expanding revealing they aren’t the peaceful nation we were being led to believe

God can raise leaders and strike them down and get nations lined up doing exactly as He decreed.

You see, God knows the end from the beginning.

Ultimately, He wins and nothing will stop Him

3. Ethiopia, the Saved Nation

Isaiah 18:7 ESV

At that time tribute will be brought to the Lord of hosts from a people tall and smooth, from a people feared near and far, a nation mighty and conquering, whose land the rivers divide, to Mount Zion, the place of the name of the Lord of hosts.

Though judgment was being declared currently, there is a future redemption for Ethiopia.

Their redeemed, like those in all lands, will be brought into the final Kingdom.

The gospel makes the stranger family

All people can be redeemed and become sons and daughters of God

In fact, in Acts, we have an Ethiopian saved!

Acts 8:26–39 ESV

Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this: “Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opens not his mouth. In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.” And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.

He went home and got to work

Christianity became Ethiopia’s official religion in the 4th century AD and all denominations combined it is still the largest religion in Ethopia

During the Millennium Kingdom the people will bring gifts to Jerusalem in worship of Almighty God!

Jerusalem was chosen by God

Deuteronomy 12:5 ESV

But you shall seek the place that the Lord your God will choose out of all your tribes to put his name and make his habitation there. There you shall go,

In the Millennial Kingdom, all the world will look to Jerusalem as its capital, jesus as the King, and tribute will flow.

Remnants of all tribes and land will be saved and a perfect world will exist under His reign

AP: Submit to the King now

The kingdom exists now.

We are citizens of it and are here as Ambassadors.

2 Corinthians 5:20 ESV

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

Submit to Him

He is King, obey Him

Do what He says do

Don’t do what He says to not do

Represent Him

Matthew 28:19–20 ESV

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

witness- share the good news

disciple=

Conclusion:

Let us eagerly await Christ’s return and faithfully serve while here.