We don’t know the hour or the Day when Jesus will come back. But He does give signs. Isaiah was a sign for his hearers. We are also called to be signposts for Christ.
Isaiah 19: An Oracle Concerning Egypt
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 neighbour, 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 counsellors 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.
Egypt, Assyria, Israel Blessed
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 saviour 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."
Isaiah 20: A Sign Against Egypt and Cush
1 In the year that the commander in chief, who was sent by Sargon the king of Assyria, came to Ashdod and fought against it and captured it---
2 at that time the LORD spoke by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, "Go, and loose the sackcloth from your waist and take off your sandals from your feet," and he did so, walking naked and barefoot.
3 Then the LORD said, "As my servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot for three years as a sign and a portent against Egypt and Cush,
4 so shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptian captives and the Cushite exiles, both the young and the old, naked and barefoot, with buttocks uncovered, the nakedness of Egypt.
5 Then they shall be dismayed and ashamed because of Cush their hope and of Egypt their boast.
6 And the inhabitants of this coastland will say in that day, 'Behold, this is what has happened to those in whom we hoped and to whom we fled for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria! And we, how shall we escape?'"
Things to think about…
In Isa 19:1-19 it says the Egyptians will be against the Egyptians. It then paints a picture as to what this looks like – the Nile will be dried up and they will be handed over to a hard task master etc. When did this happen? Well Esarhaddon the Assyrian king came and conquered in the 690’s BC. He was a fierce king who ruled. The Assyrians were known for their barbarity. Did the Nile dry up and did the Egyptians have internal turmoil? Not really. So there is in all likelihood that these passages refer to future events that are part of a judgement that is coming upon Egypt.
Look at Isa 19:16-25. When will Egypt, Iran (the Assyrians) and Israel all be united and serving the Lord, Isa 19:23-25? This has never happened in history. I believe it will only be true in the Millennium when all the nations will worship the God of Israel.
What a life is the life of a prophet. As you spoke, so you were. Egypt and Cush (Ethiopia) would be taken captive by the Assyrians. They would be taken naked back to Assyria. Israel had trusted in Cush/Egypt, but they too would be exposed and taken by Assyria. Isaiah as a sign to these nations. He was told to walk barefoot and naked for three years, Isa 20:2. Glad pastors do not have to do this today. What a fearful thing. Mind you, we are called to be totally open with our hearts towards each other. Let’s not hide any truth about ourselves, confessing our sins with one another. Let’s see our Lord restore us, knowing our judgement has fallen upon our Saviour Jesus Christ.
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Vision Point for cell groups
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Cell groups on break.
Prayer Points
1. Combined church prayer meeting this Sunday night at Beacon Baptist Church.
2. Victorian parliament discussing gay conversion therapy, antichristian bill next month.
3. Ministries as they begin back this week – Youth and Kids at Church.
4. Church finances to meet our expenses and to put a roof over our café.
5. Our City and Country – Pray for revival over our city and the leadership of our country even through these challenging times.
6. The 2 positions:- Youth and Young Adults Coordinator and Children’s Coordinator we are recruiting for in 2021.
Praise Points.
1. New folk joining CBC.
2. First Café roof drawings have been completed.
3. Ministries begin this week.
4. Unity, peace and grace at CBC.
5. Visitors over the holiday period.
Announcements
1. Combined church prayer meeting. Beacon Baptist Sun 31st Jan 5pm Beacon Baptist Church, Brassall.
2. Seeking Youth and Young Adults Coordinator – 2 days per week as well as a Children’s ministry Coordinator – 1 day per week.
3. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
