November 24 | Isaiah 11:11-16

Dave Mann
Nov 24
3 min read

DAILY READING

REFLECTION

Can You Believe It?

By Dave Mann

If we lived in Jerusalem at the time of Isaiah, what sort of feelings would we have at the mention of Egypt and Assyria? No doubt, our thoughts would be quite negative. After all, Egypt had oppressed our ancestors as slaves, and Assyria had brutally conquered Israel, the northern kingdom, and almost did the same to us in Jerusalem. Did God have any kind words for these empires? Isaiah brought words of hope for them and us.

The context: Judah’s military and commercial fortunes have been devastated. Israel’s future does not look hopeful.

Enter Isaiah and a word from the Lord: The remnant of God’s people has fled to many other nations, or the remnant has been led away as captives. Eight different regions are listed in Isaiah 11:11-12. These are the most significant regions of the three major empires of the day – Egypt, Assyria, and Babylonia. Once people are absorbed into these dynasties, it is rare they ever regain their home countries again. And yet, the Lord has an amazing promise. They will return!

In addition, Ephraim (the northern kingdom of Israel) and Judah (the southern kingdom, including Jerusalem) will not be at odds with each other (Isaiah 11:13). They will live peacefully with each other and thus be strong enough to stand against their hostile nearby neighbors – Moab, Edom, Philistia, and the Ammonites.

All of this is wonderful news for Israel, perhaps even too good to be true. However, there is yet another more incredible prophecy which is touched at the end of today’s passage, but laid out more clearly in Isaiah 19.

Isaiah 19:23-25 -- In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. The Assyrians will go to Egypt and the Egyptians to Assyria. The Egyptians and Assyrians will worship together. In that day Israel will be the third, along with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing on the earth. The Lord Almighty will bless them, saying, “Blessed be Egypt my people, Assyria my handiwork, and Israel my inheritance.”

The people of Assyria and Egypt who have treated Israel cruelly for generations will become part of God’s people. Really?

These three people groups – Israel, Egypt, and Assyria – will worship the Lord God together! You’ve got to be kidding!

God calls Egypt “my people” and Assyria “my handiwork.” Unimaginable!

Can God bring salvation to these wicked people? It would take the grace of God to do that!

Think about it.

PRAYER

O God of miracles, you have changed my heart to be sensitive to your Spirit. You have changed my mind so that I might desire your ways to become my ways. I ask for one more miracle – that you, as a baker, would knead your love throughout my heart so that I would desire, yearn, and long for the salvation of the world, all the world, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

DAVE MANN

I am a Pastor for Internationals (retired) in the UALC community. I am married to Pam, father of four, and grandfather of seven. Pam and I have lived twenty of our years in other countries including France, Cameroon, Haiti, and Morocco. In retirement, we continue to enjoy writing devotionals, learning languages, and teaching English to internationals.