Isaiah 17-18

Isaiah 17 records the burden against Damascus and Israel; Isaiah 18 concerns Ethiopia.  These chapters give us opportunity to consider the phrase in that day (e.g. 17:4,7,9,11; 18:7).  The question is whether this refers to the immediate day of judgment coming through the Assyrians or if it is the future day when Messiah returns.  First consider the message and then we will ask about the day.

·        Ch. 17: Syria and Israel are together because they were allies against Judah.

o   17:1-3: Damascus will cease being a city; Ephraim will no longer have a fortress (military strength).  Syria will be left with only a remnant.

o   17:4-6: The glory of Jacob will wane; the land will lose productivity.

o   17:7-8: Israel will finally look to her Maker and forsake idolatry.

o   17:9-11: Her desolation was the result of forsaking her Maker and Rock (Deut. 32:18).

o   17:12-14: Woe is pronounced on the unnamed nation God uses to punish Israel.  God brings His justice into every situation.

Now let us ask in what day this happens.  The destruction of Syria and Ephraim happened in the time of the Assyrians.  But in v4 Isaiah begins to say in that day.  In the past and in the future the land will lose productivity, as v4-6 says.  Some say that after the captivities that Israel no longer struggled with idolatry.  There may be some truth to this.  Certainly in the future day Israel will be holy to the Lord.  The fact that in v12-14 Assyria was not specifically mentioned may indicate it refers to the nations shortly before Messiah returns that God uses to cleanse Israel.  Let us set this aside for a moment and consider the next prophecy.

·        Ch. 18: The prophecy concerning Ethiopia is followed by one against Egypt. 

o   Historical background is helpful here.  At this time in history the Ethiopians used some inner conflicts among the Egyptians to gain control of the government of Egypt (VB p211f).  The reference to ambassadors refers to those sent out by the Ethiopians to try to forge alliances to stand up against the Assyrians.  Many commentators refer a nation tall and smooth to the Watusi tribes that are in that area to this day.  The divided rivers refer to the Blue and White Nile, the two tributaries of the Nile located today in Ethiopia and South Sudan.

o   Again, judgment involves desolation of the land and lost productivity.  But in v7 we see the phrase in that time.  In this case it clearly refers to the future time of Messiah and gives hope to Ethiopia who will be there, giving worship to the Lord in Zion.  Seeing this encourages me to think that the day in Isa. 17 is also the future day of the Messiah.  

The Bible is more than a history book.  But it’s history is always very accurate.  It depends on real events in real time in real places.  This includes Jesus’ incarnation, death and resurrection, and return!