PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Isaiah 19-20
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“They will turn to the Lord, and he will respond to their pleas and heal them.” (Isaiah 19:22)
Assyria was a rising superpower, and a threat to Israel at this time.
Egypt was a former superpower, and Israel was looking to Egypt for protection.
Note this, the people God rescued from Egypt are putting their hope in Egypt.
In these words, Isaiah shows that Egypt and Assyria are nothing before God.
But God’s purpose is not to destroy them, but to bring them to their knees.
God will humble the Egyptians and Assyrians in order to heal them.
Isaiah sees the day coming when every person will worship the Lord (19:23).
God comes as Jesus to show that the kingdom includes all people, all nations.
Jesus holds “all authority in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18).
Jesus rules over God’s kingdom, though not with worldly power or pressure.
He rules by serving, humbling and healing, showing the way to God.
Who are today’s superpowers that we either fear or put our confidence in?
How are we relating to other races and cultures, how are we helping them to God?
God loves all people and wants to help them… do I?
PRAYER
Lord, you love all people, including Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Buddhists and Atheists. Help me to share your love for all people by humbly serving and blessing them to show them God!
At the end of cleansing – punishment that has been meted out – comes unity in worshipping the Almighty God – and God will bless them: “Blessed be Egypt my people, Assyria my handiwork, and Israel my inheritance.” Thunder and lightning – but also the blessing of rain that provides water for living plants. I need to look at hard times – at the challenges and discipline that God metes out differently and see how God is speaking to me through it. Lord, may I see your loving hand as you bring all people under your rule Lord Jesus!
Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord Who made heaven and earth and all that is in it. That is where I put my confidence, my hope. Not in the armies of men who go their own way. God is the answer and I, and His people need to see that also today – God is the answer. Put your hope, trust in Him. Share the love of God and be an instrument of His peace.
Chorus:
Lord, Make us instruments of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let your love increase
Lord, make us instruments of your peace,
Walls of pride and prejudice shall cease
When we are your instruments of peace.
Where there is hatred, we will show his love
Where there is injury, we will never judge
Where there is striving, we will speak his peace
To the millions crying for release,
We will be his instruments of peace
Lord, Make us instruments of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let your love increase
Lord, make us instruments of your peace,
Walls of pride and prejudice shall cease
When we are your instruments of peace.
Where there is blindness, we will pray for sight
where there is darkness, we will shine his light
Where there is sadness, we will bear their grief
To the millions crying for relief,
We will be your instruments of peace.