Isaiah 19

what I remember:
This is a very strange prophecy. God is going to strike Egypt -- take down everything they trust in -- their gods, their grain, their families and relationships. He's going to ruin them all. And He's going to do that so that Egypt will turn to Him. After everything else has failed them, God will be there for them. They will turn to God, making sacrifices to Him and keeping vows to Him. And He will welcome them home. In the end, he calls Egypt his people, Assyria His handiwork, and Israel His inheritance.

About God:
I've been hearing so much lately that sometimes God hurts you to help you. I really don't like that concept -- that God would deliberately hurt me to put me in a position of growth. But I'm starting to think it's true. This passage certainly seems to support the idea that he hurt Egypt in order to bring her back to himself and eventually bless her.

notes: "In that day" is used a lot in this chapter.

v. 16 In that day the Egyptians will be like women. They will shudder with fear at the uplifted hand that the LORD Almighty raises against them.

After God takes them down, they turn to the God.

v. 18 In that day five cities in Egypt will speak the language of Canaan and swear allegiance to the LORD Almighty. One of them will be called the City of Destruction.

Even the "City of Destruction" turns to God.

v. 19 In that day there will be an altar to the LORD in the heart of Egypt, and a monument to the LORD at its border.

v. 21 So the LORD will make himself known to the Egyptians, and in that day they will acknowledge the LORD.

v. 23 In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. The Assyrians will go to Egypt and the Egyptians to Assyria. The Egyptians and Assyrians will worship together.

They will worship together. Cool!

v. 24 In that day Israel will be the third, along with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing on the earth.

God allows Egypt and Assyria to join Israel in being a blessing to the Earth. Wow.

What a generous God we have! He lovingly tears away the things that we worship in His place, until we turn to Him even as a last resort. Then he restores us to Himself, allows us to worship Him, and to be a blessing to others!