Proclamation Against Ethiopia

Isaiah 18:1-7 

1 Woe to the land shadowed with buzzing wings,
Which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia,
2 Which sends ambassadors by sea,
Even in vessels of reed on the waters, saying,

"Go, swift messengers, to a nation tall and smooth of skin,
To a people terrible from their beginning onward,
A nation powerful and treading down,
Whose land the rivers divide."

3 All inhabitants of the world and dwellers on the earth:
When he lifts up a banner on the mountains, you see it;
And when he blows a trumpet, you hear it.

4 For so the LORD said to me,
"I will take My rest,
And I will look from My dwelling place
Like clear heat in sunshine,
Like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest."

5 For before the harvest, when the bud is perfect
And the sour grape is ripening in the flower,
He will both cut off the sprigs with pruning hooks
And take away and cut down the branches.

6 They will be left together for the mountain birds of prey
And for the beasts of the earth;
The birds of prey will summer on them,
And all the beasts of the earth will winter on them.

7 In that time a present will be brought to the LORD of hosts
From a people tall and smooth of skin,
And from a people terrible from their beginning onward,
A nation powerful and treading down,
Whose land the rivers divide—
To the place of the name of the LORD of hosts,
To Mount Zion.

The Ethiopians of Cush ruled Egypt for a time, and these are likely the peoples who Isaiah prophecies against because God’s people had trusted in their might to fight for them instead of the Lord God.  These are the ones who sent messengers to broker treaties for help and who used papyrus boats as well.  Though these earthly powers are advertised loudly and broadly, God looks down from where He dwells among men to see clearly and bring relief to His people at the appointed times.  Those who oppose Him and His chosen people He stops their harvest and levels them so that they cannot spread out to influence His people anymore.  Instead they are left as prey for the animals and birds to consume.  Then the Cushites would bring tribute to Israel for offerings to the true God of all in His temple on Mount Zion.  How does this teach us?  We learn that God wants us to rely on Him by faith and not seek answers elsewhere to defend ourselves as His people.  It is the power of God who enables us and provides for our defense in His providence.  Those who oppose Him in us will eventually all bow to acknowledge Him as Lord of all (Isaiah 45:23, Philippians 2:10-11) as they answer to his sovereign rule and power.  All power and honor and glory is the Lord’s, so why seek to rely on our own supposed strength (2 Corinthians 12:10) and not walk by faith in our omnipotent Lord as we ought (Isaiah 31:1, Psalm 20:7) for our safety?  The Lord spoke against Ethiopia and Egypt of the people of Cush, and He speaks still against all set against His people united in Christ who are the unseen church.   He reigns, He reigns!