"On 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 worship with the Assyrians. On that day Israel will be the third with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth, whom the LORD of hosts has blessed, saying, 'Blessed be Egypt my peopole, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel my heritage.'"
(Isaiah 19:23-25)
(Isaiah 19:23-25)
This is one of those amazing passages I "stumble upon" every so often in Scripture. Tucked away at the end of chapter 19, when the first 2/3 of the chapter deal with Egypt's condemnation & impending punishment... comes quite a turn of events. In verse 19, we're told there will be an altar to God in Egypt that will serve as a witness to the LORD! "The LORD will make himself known to the Egyptians and the Egyptians will know the LORD..." (v.21). A few verses later we read about a unique highway between Egypt & Assyria - two of Israel's toughest enemies over the years. Those great nations will intermingle... and Israel will become a BLESSING to both... with all uniting in worship & reverence to the LORD.
Assyria is modern-day Iraq. Given the current political situation between the US and Iraq, it's not hard to connect this passage to our situation today. Over the weekend, I watched the new film "Traitor," a story about an undercover US spy who's Muslim (played by Don Cheadle), infiltrating a radical Muslim terrorist organization. Numerous times in the film, "both sides" (the US and the radical terrorist org) talk about fighting "the war" between them. There is a palpable sense of warlike situations all over the world today. But what an amazing vision presented here in Isaiah! Three major nations will somehow be united in worship. Nations whose geography, religion, & history had separated them - now come together under God. And God calls each of them special & beloved. Amazing! Israel will be the catalyst for blessing.
How might God use our country to bring a blessing to the world? Or maybe we're the "Assyrians" or "Egyptians" who will be brought back into a genuine relationship with God? To me, it doesn't matter. What matters is knowing that God is working for unity in the world... and God has a unique relationship with ALL people - even those we deem as "enemies." How cool that God sees us all as his friends & his children!
PRAYER: You are amazing, Lord. Pull me into alignment with Your kingdom and your vision for the world. AMEN.
Assyria is modern-day Iraq. Given the current political situation between the US and Iraq, it's not hard to connect this passage to our situation today. Over the weekend, I watched the new film "Traitor," a story about an undercover US spy who's Muslim (played by Don Cheadle), infiltrating a radical Muslim terrorist organization. Numerous times in the film, "both sides" (the US and the radical terrorist org) talk about fighting "the war" between them. There is a palpable sense of warlike situations all over the world today. But what an amazing vision presented here in Isaiah! Three major nations will somehow be united in worship. Nations whose geography, religion, & history had separated them - now come together under God. And God calls each of them special & beloved. Amazing! Israel will be the catalyst for blessing.
How might God use our country to bring a blessing to the world? Or maybe we're the "Assyrians" or "Egyptians" who will be brought back into a genuine relationship with God? To me, it doesn't matter. What matters is knowing that God is working for unity in the world... and God has a unique relationship with ALL people - even those we deem as "enemies." How cool that God sees us all as his friends & his children!
PRAYER: You are amazing, Lord. Pull me into alignment with Your kingdom and your vision for the world. AMEN.
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