Isaiah 20:1-6 & Isaiah 21:1-17
Q.1. What was the immediate plight of Egypt and Ethiopia? How was this prophecy of judgment illustrated to these nations? – (Isa.20:1-6)
In the previous chapter, Egypt and Assyria were promised a future during the Millennium. However, for now, both Egypt and Ethiopia were told of their pending doom at the hands of Assyria – so the king of Assyria will lead away the captives of Egypt and the exiles of Cush, young and old, naked, and barefoot with buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt (Isa.20:4). To drive home this reality, Isaiah was to be a living parable to these nations by – going about naked and barefoot (Isa.20:2). The Lord declared – … My servant Isaiah has gone naked and barefoot three years as a sign and token against Egypt and Cush (Isa.20:3).
Q.2. What is destined to happen to Babylon? Will the Edomites and Arabians be spared from defeat? – (Isa.21:1-17)
Isaiah was told to take watch on the watchtower. God predicted that Babylon would fall to Persia in the future. This happened in 539 B.C. – 9 “Now behold, here comes a troop of riders, horsemen in pairs.” And one said, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon; And all the images of her gods are shattered on the ground.” 10 O my threshed people, and my afflicted of the threshing floor! What I have heard from the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, I make known to you (Isa.21:9-10). Isaiah rejoiced at the coming destruction of the vicious Babylonians, but what he saw filled him with dread (Isa.21:2-5). Someone repeats and cries out – Watchman, what is left of the night? He replies – “Morning is coming … but also the night (Isa.21:11-12). The implication is that we are in the midst of terrible darkness. What follows, is more darkness after the morning. Could anything get more bleak? Yes, the world is ripe for the fury of God’s judgment. A faithful witness warned that God’s Day of Reckoning is not far away – The Lord, the God of Israel has spoken (Isa.21:17). Though Assyria was the new power in the region, this spelled the end of Edom and Arabia, in spite of their attempts to stop the onslaught (Isa.21:11-17).