God Speaks
Prophecies Against Cush, Egypt, Babylon, Edom and Jerusalem
Verse of the Day: [Although these verses are specifically addressed to Egypt thousands of years ago, let us apply them in prayer our own nation today.] It [an altar to the LORD] will be a sign and witness to the LORD Almighty in the land of Egypt. when they cry out to the LORD because of their oppressors, He will send a savior and defender, and He will rescue them. So the LORD will make Himself known to the Egyptians, and they will acknowledge the LORD. They willl worship with sacrifices and offerings; they will make vows to the LORD and keep them. The LORD will strike Egypt with a plague; He will strike them and heal them.They will turn to the LORD, and He will respond to their pleas and heal them. (Isaiah 19:20-22 NIV 2011) [Although these verses are specifically addressed to Egypt thousands of years ago, let us apply them in prayer our own nation today.] It [an altar to the LORD] will be a sign and witness to the LORD Almighty in the land of Egypt. when they cry out to the LORD because of their oppressors, He will send a savior and defender, and He will rescue them. So the LORD will make Himself known to the Egyptians, and they will acknowledge the LORD. They willl worship with sacrifices and offerings; they will make vows to the LORD and keep them. The LORD will strike Egypt with a plague; He will strike them and heal them.They will turn to the LORD, and He will respond to their pleas and heal them. (Isaiah 19:20-22 NIV 2011)
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Watch TBR Day 198
We Respond
Reflection: Consider the following questions regarding Isaiah 18-22:
1. What does this chapter tell me about God?
2. What does this chapter tell me about the human beings He created?
Here is one possible answer to each of these questions. Ask the Holy Spirit if there are any others for you personally to ponder.
Isaiah 18
1. God looks down from Heaven and calmly calls forth His judgment on nations like Cush (Ethiopia).
2. People will, at the appointed time, pay homage to the LORD of Hosts in Jerusalem.
Isaiah 19
1. When He intends to judge people, like the Egyptians, God sends a spirit of foolishness on their leaders so that they make wrong decisions.
2. People who originally fought against the LORD or His people will lose heart and faith in their idols (or ideologies). Eventually, they will turn to the LORD and worship Him.
Isaiah 20
1. God sometimes asks His servants to do some very strange things, but He has a good and admirable point in mind that He wants illustrated.
2. Instead of counting on other people or nations, God wants (especially His) people to rely on Him.
Isaiah 21
1. God sometimes plans terrifying disaster to discipline people, but He always warns them in advance.
2. People are to heed God’s warnings and prepare for war or any other disaster of which He warns them.
Isaiah 22
1. God is the one who enables people to bring honor to their family name.
2. Even God’s people get into great trouble when they don’t obey the LORD or call on Him for help or forgiveness.
Prayer:
3. How might I pray regarding Isaiah 18-22?
Dear LORD, as You look down from Heaven and calmly observe the affairs of human beings, may what I think, say, and do please You and not call forth You discipline or judgment. Holy Spirit, help me to not lose heart or put my faith in “God substitutes,” but to pay homage to You wherever Your people gather. May I obey You even when what You are asking seems odd or difficult to me because I know that You have a good and admirable point in mind that You want to illustrate. LORD God, make me aware of when You are sending a spirit of foolishness on my leaders so that they make wrong decisions. Then I can pray for them to turn to You and Your Word for wisdom and prepare for any disaster You choose to send. Enable people to bring honor to their families, their nation, and to Your holy name. LORD, please keep us from trouble by aiding us to obey You, call on You for help, and seek the forgiveness Jesus has won for us. Then we will bring You glory, LORD. AMEN
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, if He wants you to work on one of the suggestions below or something else more personal that He points out.)
4. What action does the LORD want me to take in response to Isaiah 18-22? With the help of God’s Holy Spirit:
- I will ask the Holy Spirit to help me to not lose heart or put my faith in “God substitutes,” but to pay homage to the LORD wherever His people gather.
- I will put my hope and trust in the LORD who is infallible, not in human beings, even myself.
- I will heed God’s warnings through the Bible, through godly leaders, or directly from the Holy Spirit.
- I will strive to obey the LORD and call on Him for help and forgiveness.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.
Reflection: Consider the following questions regarding Isaiah 18-22:
1. What does this chapter tell me about God?
2. What does this chapter tell me about the human beings He created?
Here is one possible answer to each of these questions. Ask the Holy Spirit if there are any others for you personally to ponder.
Isaiah 18
1. God looks down from Heaven and calmly calls forth His judgment on nations like Cush (Ethiopia).
2. People will, at the appointed time, pay homage to the LORD of Hosts in Jerusalem.
Isaiah 19
1. When He intends to judge people, like the Egyptians, God sends a spirit of foolishness on their leaders so that they make wrong decisions.
2. People who originally fought against the LORD or His people will lose heart and faith in their idols (or ideologies). Eventually, they will turn to the LORD and worship Him.
Isaiah 20
1. God sometimes asks His servants to do some very strange things, but He has a good and admirable point in mind that He wants illustrated.
2. Instead of counting on other people or nations, God wants (especially His) people to rely on Him.
Isaiah 21
1. God sometimes plans terrifying disaster to discipline people, but He always warns them in advance.
2. People are to heed God’s warnings and prepare for war or any other disaster of which He warns them.
Isaiah 22
1. God is the one who enables people to bring honor to their family name.
2. Even God’s people get into great trouble when they don’t obey the LORD or call on Him for help or forgiveness.
Prayer:
3. How might I pray regarding Isaiah 18-22?
Dear LORD, as You look down from Heaven and calmly observe the affairs of human beings, may what I think, say, and do please You and not call forth You discipline or judgment. Holy Spirit, help me to not lose heart or put my faith in “God substitutes,” but to pay homage to You wherever Your people gather. May I obey You even when what You are asking seems odd or difficult to me because I know that You have a good and admirable point in mind that You want to illustrate. LORD God, make me aware of when You are sending a spirit of foolishness on my leaders so that they make wrong decisions. Then I can pray for them to turn to You and Your Word for wisdom and prepare for any disaster You choose to send. Enable people to bring honor to their families, their nation, and to Your holy name. LORD, please keep us from trouble by aiding us to obey You, call on You for help, and seek the forgiveness Jesus has won for us. Then we will bring You glory, LORD. AMEN
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, if He wants you to work on one of the suggestions below or something else more personal that He points out.)
4. What action does the LORD want me to take in response to Isaiah 18-22? With the help of God’s Holy Spirit:
- I will ask the Holy Spirit to help me to not lose heart or put my faith in “God substitutes,” but to pay homage to the LORD wherever His people gather.
- I will put my hope and trust in the LORD who is infallible, not in human beings, even myself.
- I will heed God’s warnings through the Bible, through godly leaders, or directly from the Holy Spirit.
- I will strive to obey the LORD and call on Him for help and forgiveness.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.