Isaiah 19:24-25 says:
24 In that day Israel will be the third with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth, 25 whom the Lord of hosts has blessed, saying, “Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel my inheritance.”
In this chapter the prophet is talking about the judgement and transformation of Egypt, the nation that held the Israelites captive. God’s promise is that they will be transformed from a nation that hates God to a nation that has the altars of The LORD. This is an incredible promise because it shows that God desires the people who enslaved his people to be a part of his redeemed creation. There is judgement but judgement in this case is meant to bring transformation.
The second nation mentioned here is Assyria. At the time Assyria was the worlds most dangerous nation. They were expanding their empire through force. Assyria would eventually destroy the northern Kingdom of Israel, leading the people into captivity. Assyria was a big, scary deal to the Israelites.
In this passage, The LORD says that he is going to bring the enemies of the past,and the enemies of the future together with his chosen nation, and they will all be his people.
Now as a Christian I read this passage and thing, the only way that this is going to happen is through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The gospel brings enemies together. The Gospel brings people into the Kingdom of God where all national boundaries are secondary and we all submit and worship The LORD as king.
The Gospel should not be used to divide people, it should be shared to unite people. The divisions are not a result of the Good News of the gospel. Rather, these divisions are evidence of our own sinfulness, our own brokenness.
The promise of the Gospel is that the LORD is willing to give everything to bring as many people as possible into his forgiving love and mercy and the reconciliation of kingdoms into His Kingdom.
This week is Passover and Easter. The LORD saved the nation of Israel from the oppression Egypt through the Passover. And through the death and resurrection of His Son Jesus, he has provided a means to save people from all nations from the oppression of sin, and to receive new resurrection empowered life!
How great is the Father’s love for us.
JasonDeuman.com 