Egypt Struck and Healed

Isaiah 19:13-25

13 The princes of Zoan have become fools;
The princes of Noph are deceived;
They have also deluded Egypt,
Those who are the mainstay of its tribes.

14 The LORD has mingled a perverse spirit in her midst;
And they have caused Egypt to err in all her work,
As a drunken man staggers in his vomit.

15 Neither will there be any work for Egypt,
Which the head or tail,
Palm branch or bulrush, may do.

16 In that day Egypt will be like women, and will be afraid and fear because of the waving of the hand of the LORD of hosts, which He waves over it. 17 And the land of Judah will be a terror to Egypt; everyone who makes mention of it will be afraid in himself, because of the counsel of the LORD of hosts which He has determined against it.

18 In that day five cities in the land of Egypt will speak the language of Canaan and swear by the LORD of hosts; one will be called the City of Destruction.

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 And it will be for a sign and for a witness to the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt; for they will cry to the LORD because of the oppressors, and He will send them a Savior and a Mighty One, and He will deliver them. 21 Then the LORD will be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will know the LORD in that day, and will make sacrifice and offering; yes, they will make a vow to the LORD and perform it. 22 And the LORD will strike Egypt, He will strike and heal it; they will return to the LORD, and He will be entreated by them and heal them.

23 In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian will come into Egypt and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians will serve with the Assyrians.

24 In that day Israel will be one of three with Egypt and Assyria—a blessing in the midst of the land, 25 whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, "Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance."

The burden of the Lord against Egypt exposed their foolish rulers who deceived and were being deceived as all evil people do (2 Timothy 3:13).  The Lord Himself introduced a spirit of distortion into the Egyptians to bring their evil deeds to nothing and make them stagger around unable to accomplish their unrighteous aims as a drunken man stumbles around without sure footing.  This is how he brings the counsel of evil to frustration to stop it from overtaking God’s people and the world until He is ready to bring them all to an end in the final day.  He would stop Egyptian trade and prosperity, from workers to leaders.  Their fear would mount up among them because of God’s work against them for their sin, and they would fear the people of God instead of continuing to attack them.  They would then speak praise of the Lord of hosts and speak the language of the people of God, even setting up an altar to worship Him in Egypt!  That was a sign and witness to the Lord and His working, an acknowledgment of His lordship over them.  Egypt would call out the name of the Lord for a Savior to deliver them from their sin and their enemies.  Their vows would be to follow the Lord afterwards and the Lord’s striking their land would then turn to His healing it as a kind of discipline to cause them to repent, turning to Him for healing.  This is a picture of the gospel for lost people who were once enemies of God (Colossians 1:21) but have been humbled to repent of their wicked ways (Ezekiel 33:11) and be healed in their dead souls to be among God’s people and worship Him as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1) under His blessings of forgiveness and reconciliation.  Just as Egypt, Assyria, and Israel were then blessed together, so will we all in Christ be blessed as a people united in Him (Colossians 3:11, Revelation 5:9).  We have been similarly struck and healed by His atoning death, His burial and resurrection, and healing with a promise of unending life (1 John 2:25) together with our Lord.  God’s burden for us leads to healing in His wings and enables our worship of Him forevermore.  Isaiah uses the burden of God recounting how Egypt was struck and healed to paint a picture of the gospel of God’s grace to strike our pride and sinfulness in order to heal us eternally and cause us to worship Him.