Woe to the land shadowing with wings, which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia:
That sendeth ambassadors by the sea, even in vessels of bulrushes upon the waters, saying, Go, ye swift messengers, to a nation scattered and peeled, to a people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation meted out and trodden down, whose land the rivers have spoiled!
All ye inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth, see ye, when he lifteth up an ensign on the mountains; and when he bloweth a trumpet, hear ye.
For so the Lord said unto me, I will take my rest, and I will consider in my dwelling place like a clear heat upon herbs, and like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.
For afore the harvest, when the bud is perfect, and the sour grape is ripening in the flower, he shall both cut off the sprigs with pruning hooks, and take away and cut down the branches.
They shall be left together unto the fowls of the mountains, and to the beasts of the earth: and the fowls shall summer upon them, and all the beasts of the earth shall winter upon them.
In that time shall the present be brought unto the Lord of hosts of a people scattered and peeled, and from a people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation meted out and trodden under foot, whose land the rivers have spoiled, to the place of the name of the Lord of hosts, the mount Zion.
Isaiah 18, unlike many surrounding chapters, isn't a direct prophecy against a specific nation. Instead, it offers a powerful reassurance to the entire world: God is watching, and He will act decisively against the oppressor, Assyria, in His perfect timing. This chapter speaks of divine sovereignty and foreshadows a future where all nations will acknowledge and worship the Lord. Let's delve into the depths of this message.
A Summons to the Distant Land (Isaiah 18:1-2)
The prophecy begins with a call to a land described as "whirring wings beyond the rivers of Cush" (Isaiah 18:1). Cush generally refers to the region encompassing parts of modern-day Sudan, Egypt, and Ethiopia. During this period, the Ethiopian kings were actively trying to consolidate power in Egypt, hoping to create a unified front against the encroaching Assyrian empire. The "whirring wings" might refer to the sound of insects common in the region or, more likely, a symbolic representation of the swift messengers and ambassadors traveling throughout the land.
Isaiah then calls for envoys to be sent to a "nation tall and smooth" (Isaiah 18:2), a people feared both near and far, and whose land is divided by rivers. This description likely refers to the people of Cush/Ethiopia and perhaps even Egypt. The physical description ("tall and smooth") contrasts with the shorter, hairier appearance of people from Israel, Assyria, and other neighboring nations. The passage suggests that these people had sent envoys to Judah, possibly seeking an alliance against Assyria, but Isaiah's message is different.
A Call to Watch and Wait (Isaiah 18:3-4)
Instead of focusing on political alliances, Isaiah shifts the focus to God's sovereign plan. He calls out to all the inhabitants of the world to "look, when a banner is raised on the mountains, and when the trumpet sounds, hear!" (Isaiah 18:3). This is an invitation to observe and be ready for the Lord's intervention. God is about to display His power.
The prophet assures them that the Lord is attentive to the situation, even though He seems to be waiting. Isaiah compares God's seemingly passive stance to the stillness of heat shimmering in the sun or the quiet formation of dew during harvest (Isaiah 18:4). God's apparent inaction should not be mistaken for ignorance or indifference. He is waiting for the opportune moment.
The Divine Vinedresser (Isaiah 18:5-6)
To further illustrate God's deliberate timing, Isaiah uses the powerful image of a vinedresser carefully observing the vines in a vineyard (Isaiah 18:5-6). The vinedresser waits until the blossoms have turned into grapes and the unproductive branches are clearly distinguishable. Only then does he prune away the unwanted growth.
Similarly, God is watching Assyria, allowing them to mature in their wickedness. But when the time is right, He will decisively cut them off. The pruned branches, representing the defeated Assyrians, will be left exposed, becoming food for the birds and wild beasts throughout the summer and winter. This imagery depicts a complete and utter destruction, emphasizing God's complete control over the situation. God is waiting for the right moment to act.
A Future of Global Worship (Isaiah 18:7)
The chapter concludes with a glimpse into the future, a vision of the Messianic kingdom. "At that time tribute will be brought to the Lord of hosts from a people tall and smooth, from a people feared near and far, a nation mighty and conquering, whose land the rivers divide, to Mount Zion, the place of the name of the Lord of hosts" (Isaiah 18:7).
This prophecy speaks of a time when the people of Cush, along with people from every nation, will come to Jerusalem to worship the Lord. They will bring tribute and acknowledge His reign. This verse foreshadows the universal reach of God's kingdom, where all nations will recognize Him as Lord.
The Enduring Message of Isaiah 18
Isaiah 18 delivers a powerful message of hope and assurance. It reminds us that God is always in control, even when circumstances seem overwhelming. He has a perfect plan, and He will execute it in His perfect timing. Moreover, it offers a glimpse of a glorious future where all nations will unite in worship of the one true God. This chapter is a potent reminder of God's sovereignty, His deliberate timing, and His ultimate plan for global redemption.
Woe to the land shadowing with wings, which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia:
That sendeth ambassadors by the sea, even in vessels of bulrushes upon the waters, saying, Go, ye swift messengers, to a nation scattered and peeled, to a people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation meted out and trodden down, whose land the rivers have spoiled!
All ye inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth, see ye, when he lifteth up an ensign on the mountains; and when he bloweth a trumpet, hear ye.
For so the Lord said unto me, I will take my rest, and I will consider in my dwelling place like a clear heat upon herbs, and like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.
For afore the harvest, when the bud is perfect, and the sour grape is ripening in the flower, he shall both cut off the sprigs with pruning hooks, and take away and cut down the branches.
They shall be left together unto the fowls of the mountains, and to the beasts of the earth: and the fowls shall summer upon them, and all the beasts of the earth shall winter upon them.
In that time shall the present be brought unto the Lord of hosts of a people scattered and peeled, and from a people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation meted out and trodden under foot, whose land the rivers have spoiled, to the place of the name of the Lord of hosts, the mount Zion.
Isaiah 18, unlike many surrounding chapters, isn't a direct prophecy against a specific nation. Instead, it offers a powerful reassurance to the entire world: God is watching, and He will act decisively against the oppressor, Assyria, in His perfect timing. This chapter speaks of divine sovereignty and foreshadows a future where all nations will acknowledge and worship the Lord. Let's delve into the depths of this message.
A Summons to the Distant Land (Isaiah 18:1-2)
The prophecy begins with a call to a land described as "whirring wings beyond the rivers of Cush" (Isaiah 18:1). Cush generally refers to the region encompassing parts of modern-day Sudan, Egypt, and Ethiopia. During this period, the Ethiopian kings were actively trying to consolidate power in Egypt, hoping to create a unified front against the encroaching Assyrian empire. The "whirring wings" might refer to the sound of insects common in the region or, more likely, a symbolic representation of the swift messengers and ambassadors traveling throughout the land.
Isaiah then calls for envoys to be sent to a "nation tall and smooth" (Isaiah 18:2), a people feared both near and far, and whose land is divided by rivers. This description likely refers to the people of Cush/Ethiopia and perhaps even Egypt. The physical description ("tall and smooth") contrasts with the shorter, hairier appearance of people from Israel, Assyria, and other neighboring nations. The passage suggests that these people had sent envoys to Judah, possibly seeking an alliance against Assyria, but Isaiah's message is different.
A Call to Watch and Wait (Isaiah 18:3-4)
Instead of focusing on political alliances, Isaiah shifts the focus to God's sovereign plan. He calls out to all the inhabitants of the world to "look, when a banner is raised on the mountains, and when the trumpet sounds, hear!" (Isaiah 18:3). This is an invitation to observe and be ready for the Lord's intervention. God is about to display His power.
The prophet assures them that the Lord is attentive to the situation, even though He seems to be waiting. Isaiah compares God's seemingly passive stance to the stillness of heat shimmering in the sun or the quiet formation of dew during harvest (Isaiah 18:4). God's apparent inaction should not be mistaken for ignorance or indifference. He is waiting for the opportune moment.
The Divine Vinedresser (Isaiah 18:5-6)
To further illustrate God's deliberate timing, Isaiah uses the powerful image of a vinedresser carefully observing the vines in a vineyard (Isaiah 18:5-6). The vinedresser waits until the blossoms have turned into grapes and the unproductive branches are clearly distinguishable. Only then does he prune away the unwanted growth.
Similarly, God is watching Assyria, allowing them to mature in their wickedness. But when the time is right, He will decisively cut them off. The pruned branches, representing the defeated Assyrians, will be left exposed, becoming food for the birds and wild beasts throughout the summer and winter. This imagery depicts a complete and utter destruction, emphasizing God's complete control over the situation. God is waiting for the right moment to act.
A Future of Global Worship (Isaiah 18:7)
The chapter concludes with a glimpse into the future, a vision of the Messianic kingdom. "At that time tribute will be brought to the Lord of hosts from a people tall and smooth, from a people feared near and far, a nation mighty and conquering, whose land the rivers divide, to Mount Zion, the place of the name of the Lord of hosts" (Isaiah 18:7).
This prophecy speaks of a time when the people of Cush, along with people from every nation, will come to Jerusalem to worship the Lord. They will bring tribute and acknowledge His reign. This verse foreshadows the universal reach of God's kingdom, where all nations will recognize Him as Lord.
The Enduring Message of Isaiah 18
Isaiah 18 delivers a powerful message of hope and assurance. It reminds us that God is always in control, even when circumstances seem overwhelming. He has a perfect plan, and He will execute it in His perfect timing. Moreover, it offers a glimpse of a glorious future where all nations will unite in worship of the one true God. This chapter is a potent reminder of God's sovereignty, His deliberate timing, and His ultimate plan for global redemption.