My People, My Handiwork, My Inheritance

Introduction from bulletin

“Behold Our God” has an innate majestic ring to it. No matter how you say it, there’s power in a phrase like this. In the book of Isaiah, there are moments where this phrase is spoken and God’s power and majesty are described. “Behold” has the connotation of getting someone’s attention. Describing the Almighty tends to have that necessary effect - “Listen up!”

At other times in the writings of Isaiah, how God acts is what really gets our attention. The course of action taken is so dramatic, our mind’s eyes widen like a kid who’s just stepped out of a car from a long, long family ride and they first see Disney World. Wow! Isaiah 19 has that kind of effect.

Most people are still familiar with the 400+ years of torture and slavery Israel (the Hebrews) endured under the reign of Egypt. “Prince of Egypt” - the 1998 DreamWorks animated movie has etched it on our minds as well as the 3,400 year old account in our Bibles in Exodus. So, what if God did something unthinkable for the Egyptians? What if - after all the torment, leading His own people Israel astray, the slavery, and the deceit between Israel and Egypt, God unveiled a magnificent plan for their redemption?

Those ancient Hebrews are our ancestors in our faith! How do you feel about their oppressors being welcomed “into the family?” My seminary professor and the then President of Dallas Theological Seminary once preached on Isaiah 19. I remember him saying these words… “Can you imagine how Moses and the boys (referring to the prophets) felt about this?!” In an auditorium full of seminary students, that comment received quite a chuckle.

But, really. How would you feel about your most hated enemy, most disgusting neighbor, most historically wicked acquaintance becoming a part of your family??? Stew on that for a moment. Give that idea a real name and an identity. Now… perhaps you’ll better relate to the felt audacity of Israel when Isaiah gave the oracle concerning Egypt (and Assyria) in chapter 19. If we all do that, perhaps we’ll feel the tremendous, comforting weight of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His power to save!

Oracles in the OT are very sticky things. The word “oracle” isn’t always translated the same way. There’s at least 3-4 varieties of the translation - each one giving a nuance to the text that impacts our interpretation. A few of the translations that show up are:

“Massa” - strange, but this shows up in Prov. 30:1 and Prov. 31:1. It’s understood as a “burden” and a “pronouncement” or a “load”.

“Mas.sal” - is a little more immediately understandable, it’s understood as a “proverb”, a “saying”

Still yet, another understanding is “an utterance”. From a prophet. Having some pronouncement and future event to anticipate.

Isaiah 19 breaks down into two segments. The first part is composed of verses 1-15. These passages are part of the oracle that describes the punishment Egypt will undergo in some present and future time.

READ THE PASSAGE

Isaiah 19:1–15 ESV

1 An oracle concerning Egypt. Behold, the Lord is riding on a swift cloud and comes to Egypt; and the idols of Egypt will tremble at his presence, and the heart of the Egyptians will melt within them. 2 And I will stir up Egyptians against Egyptians, and they will fight, each against another and each against his neighbor, city against city, kingdom against kingdom; 3 and the spirit of the Egyptians within them will be emptied out, and I will confound their counsel; and they will inquire of the idols and the sorcerers, and the mediums and the necromancers; 4 and I will give over the Egyptians into the hand of a hard master, and a fierce king will rule over them, declares the Lord God of hosts. 5 And the waters of the sea will be dried up, and the river will be dry and parched, 6 and its canals will become foul, and the branches of Egypt’s Nile will diminish and dry up, reeds and rushes will rot away. 7 There will be bare places by the Nile, on the brink of the Nile, and all that is sown by the Nile will be parched, will be driven away, and will be no more. 8 The fishermen will mourn and lament, all who cast a hook in the Nile; and they will languish who spread nets on the water. 9 The workers in combed flax will be in despair, and the weavers of white cotton. 10 Those who are the pillars of the land will be crushed, and all who work for pay will be grieved. 11 The princes of Zoan are utterly foolish; the wisest counselors of Pharaoh give stupid counsel. How can you say to Pharaoh, “I am a son of the wise, a son of ancient kings”? 12 Where then are your wise men? Let them tell you that they might know what the Lord of hosts has purposed against Egypt. 13 The princes of Zoan have become fools, and the princes of Memphis are deluded; those who are the cornerstones of her tribes have made Egypt stagger. 14 The Lord has mingled within her a spirit of confusion, and they will make Egypt stagger in all its deeds, as a drunken man staggers in his vomit. 15 And there will be nothing for Egypt that head or tail, palm branch or reed, may do.

Now, this section breaks down even more. Let’s quickly look back at a breakdown to get a strong grasp of the condition of Egypt.

Verse 1 is a staggering image of God’s warrior-like presence coming upon Egypt. And the outcome is NOT good. The term used for “Behold” has the connotation of a prediction and threat. Devastation - of Egypt’s inner strength. The passage tells us that their hearts “melt”within them… You’ve heard that Hebrew word before. It’s been several months… but when you last heard it, it was in reference to the inhabitants of Jericho while Israel stood outside their walls! They literally faint with fear!

The other times we see the LORD riding on a cloud occurs in similar situations. The LORD is bringing swift darkness such as in Psalm 18:10 and 68:33. And in Revelation 1:7, the world takes notice of His ride... “7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.”

In verses 2-4, leaders and Egyptian relationships fold. They fight against one another, their counsel from their wise men would fail. A fierce king would conquer Egypt in 671 B.C., Esarhaddon of Assyria would accomplish this.

Verses 5-10 picture the environmental and economic collapse of Egypt. The Nile was their primary source of industry and personal business. It’s told that it would dry up in verse 6. In verse 7, all the by-waters are dried up and the crops fed by it rot. Whether fishermen or those weaving flax and working with cotton in verses 8-9… their businesses fail for lack of available natural resources. Those who are elite among Egypt - the “pillars” are crushed and the “blue collar” servants… grieve the loss of work.

Verses 11- 15 address the wisdom and counsel of the rulers and wise men in Egypt. It’s important to note that these are no “so-called” wise men. The same Hebrew word for wise men is used to describe Joseph in all his administrative dealings with the Egyptians in the book of Genesis. However, here, the princes, wise counselors and wise men - both of influential cities (Zoan and Memphis) - are foolish and deluded. The results of their counsel are summed up in verse 14 - ‘confusion’ and ‘drunkenness’… that’s the apparent outcome of their advice. So, in verse 15… the “head and the tail”, the “palm branch or reed” are powerless to save Egypt.

Verses 16-25 begin a new section. This is the modern day “mic drop” moment. The begin of the climactic response that no one in Israel would expect. As Ben mentioned in the opening to the series, much of Isaiah’s ministry was one of apparent failure. The people did NOT repent as they should have. This section reveals one of the reasons why.

One declares VICTORY OVER AN ENEMY WHEN THEIR ENEMY IS DEFEATED. NOT WHEN THEIR ENEMY IS CALLED ONE OF THEIR OWN.

There are 5 “In that day” responses in verses 16-25. Quickly, let’s read and summarize them…

COMMENT AS YOU GO… BUT BE SURE TO EMPHASIZE VERSE 20. WHERE “MOSES AND THE BOYS” WOULD HAVE LOST IT!

Isaiah 19:16–25 (ESV)

16 In that day the Egyptians will be like women, and tremble with fear before the hand that the Lord of hosts shakes over them.

17 And the land of Judah will become a terror to the Egyptians. Everyone to whom it is mentioned will fear because of the purpose that the Lord of hosts has purposed against them.

18 In that day there will be five cities in the land of Egypt that speak the language of Canaan and swear allegiance to the Lord of hosts. One of these will be called the City of Destruction.

19 In that day there will be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the Lord at its border.

20 It will be a sign and a witness to the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt. When they cry to the Lord because of oppressors, he will send them a savior and defender, and deliver them.

21 And the Lord will make himself known to the Egyptians, and the Egyptians will know the Lord in that day and worship with sacrifice and offering, and they will make vows to the Lord and perform them.

22 And the Lord will strike Egypt, striking and healing, and they will return to the Lord, and he will listen to their pleas for mercy and heal them.

23 In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and Assyria will come into Egypt, and Egypt into Assyria, and the Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians.

24 In that day Israel will be the third with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth,

25 whom the Lord of hosts has blessed, saying, “Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel my inheritance.”

And now, we should see why Isaiah is NOT SO POPULAR among the people! He was NOT delivering an oracle that would satisfy Israel’s desire for revenge! He was delivering an oracle that stung with JUSTICE over Egypt and STUNG AGAIN with REDEMPTION for Egypt! Redemption so powerful and so captivating that God would call Egypt the very way He asked for Egypt to release His people when in slavery! HE SAID, “LET MY PEOPLE GO”… now HE SAYS OF EGYPT, YOU ARE “MY PEOPLE!”

Assyria was a war mongering kingdom. Blood thirsty and full of hatred. BUT, God calls them “THE WORK OF HIS HANDS”. And all at the same time, never reducing the role of HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE, ISRAEL. THEY CONTINUE TO BE HIS INHERITANCE. BUT AT LEAST TWO OTHERS ARE COMING TO DINNER - ON THAT DAY!

AND THIS IS THE MESSAGE… OF THE GOSPEL!

Romans 5:8–10 ESV

8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

Closing -

*BEHOLD OUR GOD* - only God could orchestrate such a moment in the history of His chosen people, Israel. Their most notable enemy, Egypt, and one of the most terrifying and despicable kingdoms this world has ever known - the Assyrians - we part of a great reversal. God conducted so fantastic a concert, that He completely turned the tables on His children. They’re enemies would become their brothers and sisters in unified worship.

And that is what THIS TABLE - COMMUNION - is still doing today! It is the recognition that we who were sinners and enemies have been brought near, seated at the table, and reconciled to God. He therefore GAVE US the ministry of reconciliation!

That we might be ONE! Worshiping in spirit and in truth.

Beginning of Communion

Let us now take time to examine ourselves before we approach this table.

1 Corinthians 11:23–25 ESV

23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”