Relevant For Life-07/17/2013--“In that day Israel will be one of three with Egypt and Assyria—a blessing in the midst of the land, whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, “Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance.” Isaiah 19:24-25 NKJV. My grandson just spent a few weeks with us and one day we were at a pizza place waiting at our table for the pizza to come. The waitress walks over and hands us metal forks and paper napkins and then she sit down paper plates. My grandson looked at me and said, “Seriously?” I could not help but laugh and was very grateful that the waitress had already walked away. You see, he sets at the table for meals and has dinner with us and his mother with napkins real plates, etc… so he could not even fathom that they set paper plates down in front of us. As a result of the time he spent here, from him I picked up a saying, “Seriously?” And in reading the scriptures for today, I said the same thing—Seriously? In that day … what day is that you ask? Wait, first let us see what God is saying will happen in that day so you understand my confusion. Egypt, Assyria and Israel will be united and blessed by God—are you kidding me? No, He does not kid. But for us who daily watch the wars between these three nations; those of us who know that they have always fought against each other. Thinking of this history and the current state of affairs over there, we are pretty sure that trying to get them to get along is next to impossible. But wait, there is more to this prophecy. Read the rest—it will blow you away. “In that day five cities in the land of Egypt will speak the language of Canaan and swear by the Lord of hosts; one will be called the City of Destruction. In that day there will be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the Lord at its border. And it will be for a sign and for a witness to the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt; for they will cry to the Lord because of the oppressors, and He will send them a Savior and a Mighty One, and He will deliver them. Then the Lord will be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will know the Lord in that day, and will make sacrifice and offering; yes, they will make a vow to the Lord and perform it. And the Lord will strike Egypt, He will strike and heal it; they will return to the Lord, and He will be entreated by them and heal them. In 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 serve with the Assyrians.” Isaiah 19:18-23 NKJV. It is very hard indeed for us to think that these three nations will be actually calling out to the Creator God and serving Him—God of Israel, the God they have rejected for so long—I John 5:7—the Father, the Son-Jesus and the Holy Spirit. And remember, this was being said in the time of Isaiah—and let me tell you—this was even stranger to them than to us as Nineveh was in Assyria. Nineveh, you know, Jonah’s Nineveh that he decided God was wrong about and that they were past saving. That’s just how bad this place was to Israel—one of God’s prophets actually thought God was wrong about a group of people, but God loved them and they were saved at the time—the whole city. So here’s the thing, Israel, Egypt and Assyria will all be calling on the name of God one day—united as three for Him. Things can change—people can change. God can do anything. “But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26 NKJV. What day is it that this will happen? First, note how many times He says “in that day”. We see from these familiar words that He uses that this is not just any day. It is the day of His return—when Jesus returns again to this Earth. The day many miracles will happen—Isaiah 27:1—Satan will be stopped. Egypt and Assyria will join Israel and worship the Lord in Jerusalem—Isaiah 27:13. These three nations who fight daily will be friends, love each other and God. How weird is that? I must digress, as one of the coolest things about that day is that the saints are coming with Him—Jude 1:14; Zechariah 14:5. So who are the saints spoken of here? They are those who believed in Him before He came—sight unseen, those whom were removed from the Earth before the Tribulation, saved from the wrath to come—Romans 5:9. Scary? Sure—but if it was not scary how else would He get your attention? Oh, and about the saints—Satan wants us to think that being a saint of God is out of our reach—there are so many things you have to do to become a saint. Not true—believe in Him and you are a saint to God. Most of the letters to the churches that Paul wrote in the New Testament began by addressing who he was writing too, the saints of the church—the whole church. Throughout the Psalm’s God speak of us—the saints. If you believe in God, you are a saint. Cool huh? Look for yourself. “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints,” Jude 1:14 NKJV. Miracles do happen with God. Israel, Egypt and Assyria will one day be united and worship our Creator God. With God—all things are possible. One that great day … hard to believe, but it will happen. Think about it—if these three nations who hate each other will one day not only love each other but God too, maybe that means something more in your life. We think that things in our life are impossible, but if God can do this, what can He not do? Don’t underestimate the power of God in your life. He can do anything …
Posted on: Wed, 17 Jul 2013 13:20:57 +0000