Prophecies Against Egypt
Text: Isaiah 19-20
God Is Bringing Judgment Against Egypt - Isaiah 19:1-4
The message of doom to Egypt begins with an image of God riding a cloud like a war horse to bring swift judgment. The idols of Egypt cannot protect the people from God, nor can the people withstand His advance.
God will promote internal conflict within the nation so that chaos ensues as different regions battle each other. Once the nation is demoralized, God will interfere with their planning. It will become so bad that people will consult fraudulent soothsayers to get information. At this point, the Egyptians will be subjugated by a cruel and mighty king (Ezekiel 29-31). Some believe this refers to Esarhaddon's invasion of Egypt in 671 B.C.
A Drought Will Dry Up the Nile - Isaiah 19:5-10
Another aspect of God's judgment against Egypt involves a drought that will dry up the Nile. Fish and plant life will die and rot. The fishing industry will struggle. Manufacturers of linen cloth will suffer as there is insufficient flax to support the industry. Everything that supports Egypt's economy will fall. Even the hired laborers will suffer when there is no business left to hire them.
Pharaoh's Advisors Will Become Fools - Isaiah 19:11-15
God will also attack the government by making Pharaoh's advisors foolish. Zoan was one of Egypt's leading cities, but it couldn't produce a wise counselor to solve the issues caused by God. Another major city, Memphis, is experiencing the same problem. This is a result of their pride in their abilities, but the evidence will show that they led Egypt astray. God compares their advice to trying to follow a drunkard slippy on his own vomit. The result will be a collapsed economy where no one can find work.
In That Day - Isaiah 19:16-24
These actions will lead the Egyptians to become emotional and fearful. They will cringe if God merely waves His hand. They will fear the small country of Judah, which is on their border, out of fear for what God plans. Judah had been Egypt's buffer against the Assyrians, but Assyria started invading it.
Some of Egypt's cities will start speaking the language of the Canaanites and will give their allegiance to God. The number "five" may indicate a small part of the whole. By calling it the "language of the Canaanites" instead of the "language of Israel," there may be an indication that this adoption of Jewish thought wasn't pure. An altar to God and a memorial pillar will be placed on Egypt's border. Their presence will be a sign that when they cry to God for help because of their oppressor, God will hear them. As a result, some of the Egyptians will begin to worship God. This was thought to have occurred sometime during the Greek rule of the region.
God will strike Egypt, but He will also heal them.
Egypt and Assyria will begin a relationship, and Israel, being between these two former superpowers, will benefit. This also likely refers to the Greek rule over the region.
Egypt and Cush Will Be Led into Captivity - Isaiah 20:1-6
This prophecy was made in the year that Sargon of Assyria attacked and captured the city of Ashdod in Philistia (711 B.C.).
Isaiah was told to remove his mourning clothes and go about naked for three years. The word does not always imply absolute nakedness. It can refer to being improperly clothed, such as in undergarments. This would be an illustrative sign against Egypt and Cush. Assyria will attack and capture these lands and bring the people of Egypt out of their land with nothing, not even their clothes. Their defeat and capture will completely embarrass them and embarrass those who thought to rely on them. The people on the coastlands (the Philistines) thought they could escape the Assyrian army but find themselves captured anyway.
