ISAIAH LESSON 23


     We will begin this lesson in Isaiah 19:13 "The princes of Zoan
are become fools, the princes of Noph are deceived; they have also
seduced Egypt, [even they that are] the stay of the tribes thereof."

     Noph is probably Ethiopian. It seems they had influenced Zoan.
When the blind lead the blind, they both fall in the ditch. "The stay
of the tribes" would be speaking of those who were stable in their
thinking.

     Isaiah 19:14 "The LORD hath mingled a perverse spirit in the
midst thereof: and they have caused Egypt to err in every work
thereof, as a drunken [man] staggereth in his vomit."

     In the lesson just prior to this one, we learned that the
Egyptians had been worshipping false gods. They even practiced sorcery
and witchcraft. We see that part of their punishment God brought upon
them was a perverse spirit.  This spirit was one that brought
confusion among the leaders. Since their mind was controlled by this
perverse spirit, they could not make good clear decisions, and
everything they put their hand to failed. They were so confused, they
were staggering as a drunk man would stagger.

     Isaiah 19:15 "Neither shall there be [any] work for Egypt, which
the head or tail, branch or rush, may do."

     This is just saying they could profit from nothing they did.
Everyone is pulling in his own direction. Not anyone is working in
union with anyone else. I want to stop and remind you, Egypt in the
symbolic sense, means the unconverted world. Our world is in just such
a state of confusion today. The only true unity that any of us have,
is in Jesus Christ our Saviour and LORD.

     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."

     In this particular instance, being "like unto women" means they
have become weak. Their hearts are failing them for fear of things God
is bringing upon the earth. When God shakes the earth, it is time to
be afraid, because who is able to win against God? No one. The shaking
taking place then, and the wrath that is to come on the earth, is very
similar. The only thing that would have stopped the shaking was
repenting and turning 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."

     Egypt had come into confrontation once before against Judah and
their God. I am sure that they were aware of the terrible plagues God
had brought on Egypt to get the Pharaoh to release His people. They
are not so much afraid of Judah, as they are of Judah's God. The LORD
of hosts has taken counsel against Egypt in behalf of Judah. When
Judah attacks Egypt, it is God really using Judah. This is what brings
the fear.

     Isaiah 19:18  "In that day shall five cities in the land of Egypt
speak the language of Canaan, and swear to the LORD of hosts; one
shall be called, The city of destruction."

     We see, in this, that certain parts of Egypt have begun to
believe in the God of Judah. This says that at least five cities have
begun speaking the language of Canaan. This does not just mean they
are speaking Hebrew, but means they have accepted the God of the
Hebrews.  We see from this, that before Christ came to the earth as
Saviour and Lord, there was a group who were worshipping Jehovah in
Egypt. We do know from history that a Christian church was begun in
Alexandria, probably established by Mark. It seems that one of the
cities that turned to the worship of Jehovah had been an evil city
{city of destruction} where they had worshipped the sun god. They have
been converted, and now place their faith in the One True God. "Swear
by the LORD of hosts", just means they have placed their trust and
faith in Him.

     Isaiah 19:19 "In that day shall there be an altar to the LORD in
the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof to
the LORD."

     We do not have exact information on what the altar was, that was
erected here. We do know that it was a place set aside to meet with
God. It seems there was, also, a pillar at the entrance of this area
proclaiming their faith in God. There are many who connect this with
the great pyramid. I will not make that assumption here. We do not
need facts to lead us to the Lord. He will accept simple faith, and
nothing else. I believe we would be in error to look to a pyramid to
give us answers from God. I have said many times that I believe the
reason we have never been able {in the masses} to see Noah's ark with
our natural eyes, is the fact that God does not want us to come to Him
because of being convinced in our mind by things we see with our
natural eye. He wants us to come to Him with faith in our heart. John
20:29 "Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou
hast believed: blessed [are] they that have not seen, and [yet] have
believed."

     Isaiah 19:20 "And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto
the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt: for they shall cry unto the
LORD because of the oppressors, and he shall send them a saviour, and
a great one, and he shall deliver them."

     In my opinion, this is not speaking of physical Egypt alone.
Jesus Christ is the Saviour. He came to save all mankind. There are
signs that do verify things of Christ. Jesus said it was wrong to base
what we believe on signs alone. Luke 11:29  "And when the people were
gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation:
they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of
Jonas the prophet."  The sign in the verse above, however, is not God
giving them a sign, but them giving Him a sign. Their recognition of
God is a sign to God they are no longer heathen, but seeking the One
True God. Now God has a people even in Egypt.

     Isaiah 19:21 "And the LORD shall be known to Egypt, and the
Egyptians shall know the LORD in that day, and shall do sacrifice and
oblation; yea, they shall vow a vow unto the LORD, and perform [it]."

     We see from this that, the Lord became recognized by some
Egyptians.  In the physical, there were Egyptian Jews who went to the
temple in Jerusalem to worship. These converts have taken their belief
in God so seriously that they do not take vows casually. They make
sure that they keep their vows to Him.

     Isaiah 19:22 "And the LORD shall smite Egypt: he shall smite and
heal [it]: and they shall return [even] to the LORD, and he shall be
entreated of them, and shall heal them."

     This is saying that God reached down with His right hand, and
touched Egypt, and healed them. "Smite", in this instance is not a
blow, but a touch. Smiting can, also, be like a father correcting a
child which causes them to come to Him in a fuller sense.

     Isaiah 19:23  "In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt
to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian
into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians."

     This is saying that, the Assyrians will worship with the
Egyptians. There will not be bariers between these two nations
anymore. It is so strange, but those of us who have decided to follow
Jesus have no barriers between brothers and sisters of other
nationalities. Christians do not see black and white people, they see
their brothers and sisters in Christ.

     Isaiah 19:24 "In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt
and with Assyria, [even] a blessing in the midst of the land:"

     These 3 have been enemies in the past. They will come together in
a common faith. Their belief in God makes them one. The blessing, of
course, comes from God. They will be blessing each other, also, in the
fact that there is no more war.

     Isaiah 19:25 "Whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed
[be] Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel
mine inheritance."

     Egypt had a great deal to do with the Scriptures being translated
from Hebrew into Greek. Their Zeal for God was great. Great works for
God are never overlooked by Him. They will be blessed greatly. Egypt
has always been a place of refuge for God's people, as well. Two times
that quickly come to mind, are when Jesus was brought by Mary and
Joseph there when He was a baby to keep Herod from killing Him. The
other time was when Joseph was sold into slavery and rose to second in
command in Egypt. That will bring them great blessings, as well. The
believers in Assyria kept idolatry from overcoming the land. They kept
alive the belief in the One True God. Israel was God's chosen people
from the beginning. He had saved them from great trouble in Egypt, and
brought them to the land God had promised Abraham. They had been given
the law of God by Moses on their way to the promised land. They
actually gave us the Old Testament.  They kept wonderful records which
have helped us know of the past. They belong to God. They are His
inheritance.












































                          Isaiah 23 Questions


1.  The princes of _________ have become fools.
2.  The princes of _________ are deceived.
3.  What country is Noph of?
4.  What does "stay of the tribes" mean?
5.  The LORD hath mingled a _________ ________ in the midst thereof.
6.  What happened to everything they tried to do?
7.  Why could they not accomplish what they tried to do?
8.  What made them "like unto women"?
9.  What, from verse 16, is comparable to the wrath that is to come?
10. Who will be a terror to Egypt?
11. Who is Egypt really afraid of?
12. How many cities, in that day, shall speak the language of Canaan?
13. Certain parts of Egypt had begun to believe in __________.
14. Where was a Christian church started in Egypt?
15. What does "swear by the Lord" mean?
16. Verse 19 says there was an altar to the Lord in ________.
17. What do some people believe the pillar, in verse 19, is?
18. Why does the author believe the masses have not seen Noah's ark?
19. Quote John chapter 20 verse 29.
20. Who is the Saviour in verse 20?
21. Quote Luke chapter 11 verse 29.
22. What is the sign in verse 20?
23. How seriously had these Egyptian Jews taken God?
24. What is "smite" in verse 22?
25. What is verse 23 saying about Egypt and Syria?
26. What great thing did the Egyptians do?
27. Who were two Bible characters who found refuge in Egypt?
28. What did the believers in Assyria do?
29. _________ was God's chosen people.