In that day the Egyptians will be like women, and tremble with fear before the hand that the LORD of hosts shakes over them. 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.
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.
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. 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 savior and defender, and deliver them. 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. 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.
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.
In that day Israel will be the third with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth, whom the LORD of hosts has blessed, saying, “Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel my inheritance.”
Comment: The first paragraph in today’s reading is repeated from the yesterday’s devotional. It seems to tie the oracle into a unity, which I broke into two to keep daily length at about 4 minutes! The use of women to describe both fear and trembling seems to be understandable but not tied to reality. Most men are physically stronger than most women, and I guess that faced with physical war that this is a reasonable illustration. However, women are often more perceptive and play, and always have played, in bringing up the next generation of boys and girls to adult maturity. My wife may accuse me of going off in a tangent here but I think that the West have got themselves into a real societal mess by deserting the Biblical emphasis on sexual roles. I find it hard to watch TV when much more than half the people called upon to give sound advice are women. I see a women, often brought to the fore when the subject is very heavily male oriented (eg in fire fighting) and the males stand behind the presenter as if she has been the leader. Men are being emasculated in our society. Women are being denied their role as child guiders and the children are being put into child-minding centres which are physical carers but spiritually impoverished by government prohibitions to stop meaningful spiritual development! They are being convinced that academia is more important than servanthood to the noble profession of family building! Think about this and tomorrow’s devotional will look at this from a Biblical point of view!
Prophetically the situation is describing when the Jews were in league with the Assyrians and invaded Egypt. Many people see this latter half of chapter 19 as being partially fulfilled in that Christianity was a big part of Egyptian religion although Islam is now the dominant religion with Christians making up only about 10% of the population. Today there are estimated to be <20 Jews living in Egypt, although there were many Jews in Egypt until the Moslems came in by initial military victory and imposed high taxes on Christians! The complete fulfilling of this part of the prophecy is considered to be when Christ returns.
Lamentations 3: 21-13 – But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:
The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
Prayer: Help me to walk Your way, even if many are walking against me, my Father.
As I read it! 