Isaiah 19:16

Isaiah 19:16 says, In that day shall Egypt be like unto women: and it shall be afraid and fear because of the shaking of the hand of the Lord of hosts, which he shaketh over it.  Isaiah said in the day when they were suffering defeat that the nation of Egypt would be like a fearful woman.  I won’t debate whether women are more afraid than men are in bad situations, but women in that day were very limited in what they could do, so if an attack came against the nation, they had little way to defend themselves.   The men of Egypt would be the same way when the hand of God shook them.  It doesn’t matter if we are male or female when it comes to facing God’s judgment.  Those who are not redeemed by putting their faith in Jesus Christ will shake in fear when that final judgment comes.  

Verse seventeen adds, And the land of Judah shall be a terror unto Egypt, every one that maketh mention thereof shall be afraid in himself, because of the counsel of the Lord of hosts, which he hath determined against it.  Isaiah also said that when that day came that everyone in Egypt would be afraid of the people of Judah, not because of their great strength, but because of the power of their God.  Those who defy God or reject the fact that He exists may be powerful in the world today, as Egypt was in that day, but one day, they are going to tremble in terror when His judgment comes.  I believe they will then look on the followers of Christ with envy. 

Verse eighteen continues, In that day shall five cities in the land of Egypt speak the language of Canaan, and swear to the Lord of hosts; one shall be called, The city of destruction.  Isaiah said that when this day came that the people of Egypt would speak the language of Canaan.  In other words, where Egypt had been in power over the people of Judah, they would now be subject to them because of the power of God.  Those in power today who deny God will one day understand the word of God, but it will be too late for it to do them any good.  Matthew Henry says that the city of destruction refers to one in six cities that wouldn’t obey God, which would mean that not everyone in Egypt accepted the authority of God.  We will never have everyone in a nation accept God, but all we can do is present the gospel to them 

Verse nineteen states, In that day shall there be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof to the Lord.  Isaiah said when this day came that there would be an altar to God in Egypt, though they had denied His existence and power.  Matthew Henry says some of this prophesy may have pointed to the days of Jesus Christ and the actions of the disciples after His resurrection when the gospel was carried to Egypt.  Many prophesies in the Old Testament not only applied to a particular event that happened then but also pointed ahead to the coming of Jesus Christ as the only way to salvation.  I do know that one day every knee is going to bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation, but for too many it will be too late.

Verse twenty adds, And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt: for they shall cry unto the Lord because of the oppressors, and he shall send them a saviour, and a great one, and he shall deliver them.  Isaiah said that the people of Egypt would cry out to the Lord, and He would send them a Savior.  Like the Egyptians in that day, if life becomes more than someone can bear, if they call out to the Savior, God will lift their burden spiritually. 

Verse twenty-one continues, And the Lord shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the Lord in that day, and shall do sacrifice and oblation; yea, they shall vow a vow unto the Lord, and perform it.  Isaiah said that in that day the Egyptians would worship God as the one true God.  They would be sincere in their worship of Him.  No matter how powerful a person may be in the world today, they will never be victorious until they accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord. 

Verse twenty-two concludes, And the Lord shall smite Egypt: he shall smite and heal it: and they shall return even to the Lord, and he shall be intreated of them, and shall heal them.  Isaiah said that God was going to cause Egypt to be defeated, but once they turned to Him by faith they would be healed.  We may fight against God and find ourselves defeated, but if we turn to Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, we will be healed spiritually.   

Verse twenty-three says, In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians.  Isaiah said when this day came that the Egyptians and the Assyrians would travel freely from one nation to the other, even though they had often been at war with each other.  We may be at war with someone today, but if we both come to God through faith in Jesus Christ, though they may have been our enemies, we will now willingly enter into peaceful relationship with them. 

Verse twenty-four adds, In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land:  Isaiah said in that day that Israel would be the third powerful nation along with Egypt and Assyria, although they had often battled each other.  This is also a reference to the Gentiles and Jews being reconciled with each other by their faith in Jesus Christ. 

Verse twenty-five continues, Whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance.  God will call the people of all three nations His people if they have put their faith in Him.  Still, this is not a lasting physical peace, but an everlasting spiritual peace between these people if they remained faithful to Him.  It is only those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord that will remain brothers and sisters in Christ.