Day By Day - Isaiah 19
Leanne Rich
Opening Thoughts:
God's blessing can be removed and restored. God's blessing on our lives is contingent on us following Him and staying faithful.
Blessing is a bit like an umbrella. You are only protected if you stay underneath the umbrella.
Point 1
How you treat people will come back to you.
Egypt had been blessed with abundance, under Joseph's wise administration: abundance that provided enough for the whole country and the surrounding countries, including the land of Abraham. Eventually, the whole clan of Abraham relocated to Egypt and were received warmly by the Pharoah.
Over time though, the blessing of Pharoah died out and the Israelites became subject to ethnic cleansing and forced labour.
The blessing of God was removed from Egypt. After the departure of the Israelites, the tables eventually turned on the mighty Egyptians and they were treated by their enemies in the same fashion as they had treated God's people.
God, however, gave the Egyptians time to come to their senses and remember Him. But from our text, it seems that instead of remembering what Joseph had taught them about God and worshipping Him, they had returned to their occultic practices (Is 19:3). About 200 years later they were defeated by the Assyrians.
Point 2
Repentance brings restoration.
After the Egyptians lost faith in the occultic religions they followed, they returned to their knowledge and worship of the one true God. God sent them a saviour and deliverer. From poverty, their grains and vineyards were restored (Is 19:19-21).
Point 3
When we are in step with God we become a blessing to others.
Egypt became a blessing to the earth (Is 19:24).
God kept Egypt safe from harm and prospered them. Eventually, Egypt became a country of refuge for Mary, Joseph and a young Jesus, who was being hunted by a jealous and evil king Herod (Matt 2:13-15). Through this act of compassion to Jesus' family in their time of need, Egypt became a blessing to all the people of the earth.
Final Thoughts:
When we live our lives faithfully loving and serving God, we stay under His protection and provision and become a blessing to others.
Challenge: If you know you are not living wholeheartedly and faithfully as you know you should, repentance is a necessary act to be restored to relationship with God and have His blessing on your life. Is that what is needed right now?
Opening Thoughts:
God's blessing can be removed and restored. God's blessing on our lives is contingent on us following Him and staying faithful.
Blessing is a bit like an umbrella. You are only protected if you stay underneath the umbrella.
Point 1
How you treat people will come back to you.
Egypt had been blessed with abundance, under Joseph's wise administration: abundance that provided enough for the whole country and the surrounding countries, including the land of Abraham. Eventually, the whole clan of Abraham relocated to Egypt and were received warmly by the Pharoah.
Over time though, the blessing of Pharoah died out and the Israelites became subject to ethnic cleansing and forced labour.
The blessing of God was removed from Egypt. After the departure of the Israelites, the tables eventually turned on the mighty Egyptians and they were treated by their enemies in the same fashion as they had treated God's people.
God, however, gave the Egyptians time to come to their senses and remember Him. But from our text, it seems that instead of remembering what Joseph had taught them about God and worshipping Him, they had returned to their occultic practices (Is 19:3). About 200 years later they were defeated by the Assyrians.
Point 2
Repentance brings restoration.
After the Egyptians lost faith in the occultic religions they followed, they returned to their knowledge and worship of the one true God. God sent them a saviour and deliverer. From poverty, their grains and vineyards were restored (Is 19:19-21).
Point 3
When we are in step with God we become a blessing to others.
Egypt became a blessing to the earth (Is 19:24).
God kept Egypt safe from harm and prospered them. Eventually, Egypt became a country of refuge for Mary, Joseph and a young Jesus, who was being hunted by a jealous and evil king Herod (Matt 2:13-15). Through this act of compassion to Jesus' family in their time of need, Egypt became a blessing to all the people of the earth.
Final Thoughts:
When we live our lives faithfully loving and serving God, we stay under His protection and provision and become a blessing to others.
Challenge: If you know you are not living wholeheartedly and faithfully as you know you should, repentance is a necessary act to be restored to relationship with God and have His blessing on your life. Is that what is needed right now?
Posted in Isaiah