Egypt's Finest Day

In an earlier post this week, Egyptian Reversal, we looked at Isaiah's ancient prophecy in Isaiah 19 - that the Nile would dry up and Egypt's economy would disintegrate.

It was a shocking use of prophetic hyperbole designed to warn Israel not to seek a military alliance with Egypt.

Interestingly the last book of the Bible echoes Isaiah’s vision of economic collapse of a great city and its maritime commerce. Global investors are distraught and lament ...
In one hour such great wealth has been brought to ruin! Every sea captain, and all who travel by ship, the sailors, and all who earn their living from the sea, will stand far off.
When they see the smoke of her burning, they will exclaim,
'Was there ever a city like this great city? Revelation 18:17-19

But Isaiah’s prophecy, like John’s Revelation, is not a doomsday tirade. Like John, Isaiah is a prophet of hope. In a way unforeseen by any other Hebrew writer, Isaiah perceives that God has a national destiny in store for Egypt that would astonish even the most imaginative zealot in Israel – or the church. Isaiah foresees a day when God will open Egypt’s heart, not to foolish superstitions, but to the worship of Yahweh. Egyptians will become passionate Yahweh worshippers and Yahweh will become Egypt’s saviour (v.20).

A highway of commerce and communication will open from Egypt to Assyria, linking Israel’s ancient and current oppressors in a covenant of loyalty, not simply with Israel, but with Israel’s God. Egypt and Assyrian will worship Yahweh together (v. 23). And so the doomed Nile becomes a river of blessing to the whole world, like the river of Eden and the rivers of  Ezekiel and St. John.

St. Simon the Tanner Church, Moquattan Mtn, Egypt

Who could have foreseen such a paradigm-bursting turn-around, such a river of blessing from such a cursed source? Who would have imagined that - 'in that day Israel will be the third, along with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing on the earth. The LORD Almighty will bless them, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, Assyria my handiwork, and Israel my inheritance.' (v. 24-25)

God of Rivers, Revenue and Righteousness,
Your words today remind me that the flow of wealth in this world is not automatic. Your River flows in channels of justice and truth. You have ordained a law for all nations that industry and mercy must flow together or they will eventually shrivel and die. And you have promised that if we pay attention to your commands, our peace and prosperity will flow like a river, our righteousness like the waves of the sea (Isaiah 48:18).

May your mercy flow today into every country drained and watered by the mighty Nile – Tanzania, Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt. And, may the good news of Jesus flow like a river through these nations and cause them to flourish in ways we can hardly imagine. Amen.

Photo Sources:
Pyramid - EgyptPhoto
Nile - Travel2Egypt
Coptic Church - The Egypt Diocesan Association