Our Father Rides the Cloud to Egypt
Egypt turns on itself, its Nile dries, and its famous counselors give senseless advice because our Father has poured confusion into her. Then the oracle turns startling: an altar in Egypt's heart, a savior sent when Egypt cries out, and Egypt called his children.
19 1An oracle about Egypt. Look—our Father rides a swift cloud into Egypt. Egypt's idols tremble before him, and Egypt's heart melts within.
2I will stir up Egypt against Egypt, and they will fight, each against his brother and each against his neighbor, city against city, kingdom against kingdom. 3The spirit of Egypt will be poured out within it, and I will swallow up its counsel; they will inquire of the idols and the spirit-mediums, the ghosts and the necromancers. 4I will hand Egypt over into the grip of a harsh master, and a fierce king will rule over them—declares the Father of heaven's armies.
5The waters of the sea will dry up, and the river will be parched and dry. 6The canals will stink; the streams of Egypt will dwindle and dry up; reed and rush will wither. 7The bare places along the Nile, at the mouth of the Nile, and everything sown beside the Nile will dry up, blow away, and be no more. 8The fishermen will mourn; all who cast a hook into the Nile will lament, and those who spread nets on the water will waste away. 9The workers in combed flax will be ashamed, and the weavers of white cloth. 10Her weavers will be crushed, and all who work for wages will be sick at heart. 11The princes of Zoan are nothing but fools; Pharaoh's wisest counselors give senseless counsel. How can you say to Pharaoh, "I am a son of the wise, a son of ancient kings"? 12Where now are your wise men? Let them tell you and make known what the Father of heaven's armies has planned against Egypt. 13The princes of Zoan have become fools, the princes of Memphis are deceived; the cornerstones of her tribes have led Egypt astray. 14Our Father has poured into her a spirit of confusion, and they have made Egypt stagger in all it does, like a drunkard staggering in his vomit. 15There will be nothing Egypt can do, whether head or tail, palm branch or reed. a a v15 Head and tail, palm branch and reed: a Hebrew idiom covering everyone from the greatest to the least.
16In that day the Egyptians will be like women—trembling in fear at the hand the Father of heaven's armies raises against them. 17The land of Judah will terrify Egypt; all who hear it named will be afraid, because of what the Father of heaven's armies is planning against them. 18In that day five cities in Egypt will speak Canaan's language and swear allegiance to the Father of heaven's armies. One will be called the City of the Sun. b b v18 The language of Canaan was Hebrew, the native tongue of Israel.
19In that day there will be an altar to our Father in the heart of Egypt, and a pillar to him at its border. 20It will be a sign and witness to the Father of heaven's armies in the land of Egypt. When they cry out to our Father because of oppressors, he will send them a savior and defender, and rescue them. 21Our Father will reveal himself to Egypt; that day the Egyptians will know him, worship with sacrifice and offering, and make vows to him and fulfill them. 22Our Father will strike Egypt—striking and healing. They will return to him; he will hear their pleas and heal them. c c v22 When our Father disciplines, his goal is never destruction but homecoming — he strikes only to heal, and he heals the moment his children turn back to him.
23In that day a highway will run from Egypt to Assyria. Assyrians will enter Egypt and Egyptians Assyria, and Egypt will worship with Assyria.
24That day Israel will be third with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth,
25for the Father of heaven's armies has blessed them: "Blessed be Egypt my children, Assyria my handiwork, and Israel my inheritance." d d v25 Our Father names Egypt — Israel's ancient oppressor — as his people, alongside Assyria as the work of his hands and Israel as his inheritance. Our Father's heart reaches every nation home.
