Daily Devotions
Isaiah
"The land of Judah will be a terror to Egypt"
Text: Isaiah 19:17
EGYPT’S SEVERE DECLINE
Egypt may have once been a mighty kingdom. But because it was poorly advised, the kingdom declined badly!
“The LORD has mingled a perverse spirit in her midst;
And they have caused Egypt to err in all her work,
As a drunken man staggers in his vomit.
Neither will there be any work for Egypt,
Which the head or tail,
Palm branch or bulrush, may do.
In that day Egypt will be like women, and will be afraid and fear because of
the waving of the hand of the LORD of hosts, which He waves over it.
And the land of Judah will be a terror to Egypt;
everyone who makes mention of it will be afraid in himself,
because of the counsel of the LORD of hosts which He has determined against it.”
Isaiah 19:14-17
1. A perverse spirit.
a) There were many counsellors.
i) Each had his own ideas.
ii) Conflict was inevitable.
iii) Bad decisions were made.
b) Perversity prevailed:
i) Selfishness.
ii) Iniquity.
iii) Wrong things were pursued.
Great errors were made by the leaders with devastating results!
2. Consequences of bad leadership.
a) In all matters error prevailed.
b) Egypt was like a drunkard staggering in his own vomit.
c) Work was hard to find.
d) Egypt was compared to weak frightened women.
3. The hand of the LORD.
a) God needed only to wave His hand against Egypt, and the nation collapsed.
b) Judah in comparison.
i) It was a small nation compared to Egypt.
ii) Yet, Egypt became afraid of Judah.
c) The sovereign power of the LORD against Egypt.
i) The princes of Zoan and Noph could do nothing against God’s plan.
ii) The Pharaoh was powerless.
iii) The kingdom of Egypt had fallen into very hard times.