The Lord is Sovereign
The LORD has mingled within her
a spirit of confusion;
and they have made Egypt stagger in all her doings
as a drunken man staggers in his vomit.
15 And there will be nothing for Egypt
which head or tail, palm branch or reed, may do.
16 In that day the Egyptians will be like women, and tremble with fear before the hand which the LORD of hosts shakes over them. 17 And the land of Judah will become a terror to the Egyptians; every one to whom it is mentioned will fear because of the purpose which the LORD of hosts has purposed against them.
18 In that day there will be five cities in the land of Egypt which speak the language of Canaan and swear allegiance to the LORD of hosts. One of these will be called the City of the Sun.
19 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. 20 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 will defend and deliver them. 21 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 burnt offering, and they will make vows to the LORD and perform them.
Isaiah 19:14-21
Wow! What a chapter.
You need to read the whole chapter to sense the emotional reactions I experienced from reading it this morning.
From verses 1 - 17, Isaiah talks about the moral decline and depravity of Egypt which leads one depressed.
And then from verses 18 - 25, the prophecy of Egypt going to ruin under the hand of the Lord is followed by Egypt turning toward the Lord in honour, sacrifice, and praise.
Isaiah ends with this verse.
In that day Israel will be the third with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth, 25 whom the LORD of hosts has blessed, saying, “Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel my heritage.”
I so often think of how Canada is becoming more like Egypt- morally immoral and morally bankrupt. And when I do, I cry for my Canada. I cry that the Spirit of God would become manifest to our leaders and the spirit of humanism would be denounced. I cry for each depressed, isolated, fearful soul in our country who are indoctrinated by its spiritual oppression. I cry as one who sees no hope of seeing this happen, no solution for seeing this happen...
It left me discouraged, depressed, sad, and angry all at once..
and then, comes the last half of the chapter.
Egypt is redeemed by their turning toward God instead of away from Him. The imagery of what God can do is so beautiful it makes me cry. But this time they are tears of joy not sorrow, hope not hopelessness, dancing not depression..
God says to me. “This can be Canada too. You just need to wait for their sin to ripen before I can work” (just like God said about the Amorites centuries before Isaiah).
My prayer has turned from one of hopelessness to one of hope. One of great encouragement...
just wait.
Continue praying but this time with courage, conviction, and assurance.
O Canada, God stand on guard for thee...
Happy Canada Day this coming Tuesday, July 1.