God Wounds and Heals [Isaiah 19-20]

    12Well then, where are your wise men?
         Please let them tell you,
         And let them understand what the LORD of hosts
         Has purposed against Egypt.
    13The princes of Zoan have acted foolishly,
         The princes of Memphis are deluded;
         Those who are the cornerstone of her tribes
         Have led Egypt astray.
    14The LORD has mixed within her a spirit of distortion;
         They have led Egypt astray in all that it does,
         As a drunken man staggers in his vomit.

God has a plan to bring destruction on Egypt because the leaders have led Egypt " astray in all that it does." Isaiah likens Egypt to "a drunken man that staggers in his vomit."  What a disgusting picture! However, that is not the end of the story. There is a coming day described in the verses below.

19In that day there will be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the LORD near its border.
20It will become a sign and a witness to the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt; for they will cry to the LORD because of oppressors, and He will send them a Savior and a Champion, and He will deliver them.
 21Thus the LORD will make Himself known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will know the LORD in that day. They will even worship with sacrifice and offering, and will make a vow to the LORD and perform it.
22The LORD will strike Egypt, striking but healing; so they will return to the LORD, and He will respond to them and will heal them.
 23In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrians will come into Egypt and the Egyptians into Assyria, and the Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians.
 24In that day Israel will be the third party with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth,
 25whom the LORD of hosts has blessed, saying, "Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance."


In the Bible, Egypt is a symbol for the world and of its comforts and luxuries. Assyria represents strength and the ability to conquer. God will send Egypt a Savior and a Champion to deliver them. He will strike them, but then heal them so that "they will return the Lord" for healing. In the end, not only will the area of ancient Egypt be united with Israel, but so will Assyria to the north. They will be one! What an awesome future! As messed up as the world is today, we know that it is going to get worse according to Isaiah and other Biblical writings. However, we have a Savior and a Champion. Our Lord is truly in control whether we are wounded or healed and we can praise Him that He has a plan for our salvation just as He does for Egypt and Assyria. 

We praise You, Lord, that You are our Savior and Champion who has, is and will continue to deliver us from the world and its evils. Even though we are in the world, we are not of this world, but of Your Eternal Kingdom and under Your perfect protection. Cause us to cast our fears and cares on You and to trust You to fill us with Your love and grace to see us through the coming days. We acknowledge that we are well graced in the midst of every situation. Cause us to live in the light and power of that grace. We can't, but You can.
Beth Warlick, 11/7/2009