International Relationships

by Zeke Flores

International hostilities go back a long way. Way, way back. Consider the international relations in Isaiah’s day. Israel’s former enslaver, Egypt, was constantly vying for top-dog status, which they won and lost repeatedly. Assyria was the superpower of Isaiah’s day. Their unofficial mantra was “march and conquer, march and conquer.” The road they marched in Isaiah’s day was the one to and from Egypt, where they often met in battle. It was a bloody road, and Israel was caught in the middle!

But Isaiah glimpsed a powerful change, a change in which Egypt, Assyria, and Israel would come together in worship of God! They would share in spiritual blessings, brothers linking arms with each other instead of taking up arms against each other.

The prophecy is fulfilled. In Jesus, all men, regardless of nationality, color, or ancestry, are brought together as “one new man” (Ephesians 2:15). So, whether you can trace your ancestry back to ancient Israel, Egypt, or even Assyria, you can join in the blessings of true unity under one eternal King.

"In that day Israel will be the third party with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth, whom Yahweh of hosts has blessed, saying, 'Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance'" (Isaiah 19:24-25).