Today's' passage: Isaiah 19:1-15
Helpful thoughts:
- God does not ride on swift clouds…that's figurative terminology. But, it does point out that The LORD of hosts is no territorial, national god like the Egyptians worship. God is the only true God and creator of the world.
- Four different dynasties struggled against each other for control in Egypt until an Ethiopian king took control before 700 B.C. This was God's doing!
- With a political vacuum and the loss of the fruitfulness of the Nile, Egypt is brought to its knees.
- Judah would certainly be foolish to try and align herself with Egypt for protection if God was about to bring this civil war and economic hardship about.
Questions to consider:
- If Egypt could be brought low by God's divine will, why were they also prosperous at other times? Who must ultimately be in control?
- Then, when Israel and Judah had relied on Egypt for strength and support in the past, whose strength were they ultimately benefiting from? BUT, whose strength did they THINK they were relying on? (Which nation? What gods?)
- Why is it foolish to put our trust in chariots (Or money, or people's opinions, etc.) when we are tempted to be anxious? (Psalm 20:7, Psalm 56:1-4)