Friday, February 4, 2011

Isaiah 23 continues God's oracles of judgment. This oracle is to Tyre and Sidon. Tyre was a successful port on the Phoenician coast. The city was known as "the merchant of the nations." It was a wealthy city with great pride in itself. Sidon is another city near Tyre that benefitted from the success of Tyre. God sends the Babylonians to destroy these two great merchant cities. Some one hundred years later they will recover, but the loss is felt from Egypt to Asia Minor. Once again God shows his Sovereignity over all nations and people.

The prophet Isaiah continues in chapter 24 with the "Final End." This oracle is to the whole world. Chapters 24 through 27 are often called "apocalyptic," since they depict the final conflict and God's victory in vivd images.

Note that God judges all men. He lays waste the whole earth. Man's pride is humbled. Nothing can keep man from being judged. However, in the midst of this judgment God calls His people to Him. They are saved. Israel from the river Euphrates to the brooks of Egyptwill be gathered to Him. The great trumpet of God will declare the Year of Jubilee and Israel will be made free.

These verses declare what God will one day do for Israel. As we watch the television these days and see the chaos in Egypt and throughout the Middle East it becomes clear that God is truly Sovereign. He has declare that the the enemies of Israel will surround them and try to destroy them in the last days. The stage is being set. In time the nations around Israel will join together to eliminate Israel from the earth. Then God will show His power and might. We need to pray for Israel. We need to pray for open hearts among the Muslims toward Jesus. We need to prepare ourselves daily to be who God desires us to be. But we can never forget that Isaiah declares that He will gather His people for He is Sovereign.

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