This chapter was rather bizarre to read. In it, Isaiah walks around naked for 3 years to symbolically represent what God would let happen to Egypt and Ethiopia. First off – what an insane way to live! How many people could have lived according to this command of God? It is moments like this one …
The prophecy given to Egypt about its downfall is increasingly enlightening to me. The sorts of pronouncements on the nation are quite common in Biblical accounts; especially from the prophets towards wayward nations. The general gist of the passage suggest that God is going to create fear, confusion and fruitlessness in Egypt. It states that …
My Place in the Rise and Fall of Nations In examining the nations surrounding Israel, Cush is the next to fall under Isaiah’s inspection. According to most consensus, Cush ranges from southern Egypt, cross parts of Sudan and into Ethiopia. While there could be interesting information in dissecting the specific words for Cush as a …
Isaiah 18: My Place in the Rise and Fall of Nations Read More »
Damascus The next chapter discusses what will happen in Damascus. Throughout Biblical accounts and contemporary day, Damascus is influential and involved in world politics, war and economics (the degree of influence swings depending upon the era of time). Today, Damascus is in Syria; as of August 2019, there is substantial conflict over the nature of …
Insufficient These past few chapters of Isaiah have stumped me. There is a meaning to them deeper than my current level of understanding and knowledge. Beginning in chapter 14, there is a direct message to the neighboring countries around Israel concerning the time of God’s rest in Israel. There is some direct meaning and implications …
Moab and the Talmud The next chapter is about the kingdom of Moab. In contemporary days, Moab lies in the country of Jordan. It is a section of land just east of the Dead Sea. Moab was a small portion, maybe 1/3 of contemporary Jordan. While the actual message about the nation of Moab I …
The King of Babylon This chapter is difficult to discuss. There is not a main point or line of thought connecting the chapter as a whole nor a narrative that is obvious to understand. If anything, the names and places are quite important, but to what degree is uncertain. This passage is about the Lord …
Building a House of Cards The prophets in the Old Testament often declare God’s judgement upon nations because of their sin and unrepentant hearts. In my own life, the difference between punishment, discipline and sinful consequences are difficult to identify. Sometimes it feels like the world is unjust and that God is allowing evil to …
My Salvation There are moments in the scripture when the topic is extremely specific and moments when the topic is vague. Isaiah 12 happens to be both. The passage is directly talking to the “His people” and telling them that “On that day,” (vs 1) that they will “give thanks to you, O Lord” (vs. …
The Power of the Word Isaiah chapter 11 is one of the more well-known chapters in the Bible. It begins by describing how Jesus will rule in a unique way. “He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness he will …