Isaiah 19:19-22
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. It will be a sign and a witness to the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt. When they cry to the Lord because of oppressors, he will send them a savior and defender, and deliver them. And the Lord will make himself known to the Egyptians, and the Egyptians will know the Lord in that day and worship with sacrifice and offering, and they will make vows to the Lord and perform them. And the Lord will strike Egypt, striking and healing, and they will return to the Lord, and he will listen to their pleas for mercy and heal them.
Tag: Even Sinners Can Come To Christ
As we read the above passage, we have to recall some amazing aspects about the country of Egypt. Typically, when we read the Bible, Egypt is a picture of sin and the sinner. When Abraham went “down” to Egypt, that was not a good thing. Egypt is “below” Israel geographically. So, too, is it referred to morally and spiritually. Egypt in the Bible is the picture of all wickedness. They worshiped many false gods. God would destroy them when He brought Israel out of slavery in Egypt. Moses and the Ten plagues and the parting of the Red Sea may be the most known story in the Bible. That is the day God redeemed Israel from the bondage of Egypt. That entire story is a picture of Jesus Christ saving sinners from the bondage of sin. So, Egypt is a picture of your worse sin and sinning. That is what makes the above passage so amazing. In the above text we are reading of times when the one who was doing the striking (Egypt) would be in a place of healing. In the above text we read about the one who offered no mercy to their captors, would be given mercy. Here we have a picture of the worse type of sinner (the one who had no regard for others) coming to Christ. Christ is the one they have to turn to, however. This is a picture of a day when even the Egyptians would come to Christ. They would not simply be sorry for their condition, but seek repentance and cry for salvation. God can save the worst of sinners. The above text bears this out. But, the worst of sinners, like these Egyptians (finally) must recognize the God of the universe and the payment of Christ’s death on their behalf. Being sorry does not save someone. Repenting and asking God to save does ... that is the message in the above text ... no matter how bad someone might be.
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