The Hebrew people spent 400 years as slaves in Egypt. Assyria was the most ruthless superpower that ravaged the entire Middle East. One of Isaiah’s most astounding prophesies is the conversion of these nations and the joint worship of God by Israel, Assyria, and Egypt.
Egypt is first on God’s list of nations to worship His majesty.
On that day there will be five cities in the land of Egypt that speak the language of Canaan and swear allegiance to the Lord of hosts. One of these will be called the City of the Sun.
On that day there will be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt and a pillar to the Lord at its border (Isaiah 19:18-19).
As early as the time of the Exodus, some Egyptians recognized Yahweh as the one and only God. Apparently, the signs that God brought upon the Egyptians brought them to faith and devotion to the Lord.
Striking but Healing
Sometimes, the only way God can get our attention is to bring hardship into our lives. I know many people who had to reach rock bottom before they looked up to their Savior.
One man who spent eight years in federal prison told me, “I hated to go to prison, but getting to meet Jesus is worth it all.”
God used hard times to reach the Egyptians.
It will be a sign and a witness to the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt; when they cry to the Lord because of oppressors, he will send them a savior and will defend and deliver them.
The Lord will make himself known to the Egyptians, and the Egyptians will know the Lord on that day and will serve with sacrifice and offerings, and they will make vows to the Lord and perform them.
The Lord will strike Egypt, striking but healing, so that they will return to the Lord, and he will listen to their supplications and heal them (Isaiah 19:20-22).
God’s beloved people weren’t the only ones to be chastened. He brought the Egyptians low, so they would return to Him. They cried to God in their pain, and He healed them.
They responded in faith, gratitude, and worship.
Israel, Assyria, and Egypt
The Assyrians were the superpower of the Middle East. All warfare in that day was extremely brutal, but the Assyrians perfected the brutality and horrors of war.
It is a testimony to the faithfulness of Isaiah to report God’s words that Assyria is included as worshiping partners with Israel and Egypt.
On that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian will come into Egypt and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians will serve with the Assyrians.
On that day Israel will be the third party with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth, whom the Lord of hosts has blessed, saying,
“Blessed be Egypt my people and Assyria the work of my hands and Israel my heritage” (Isaiah 19:23-25).
Imagine if today’s headlines in the Jerusalem Post read, “Israel, Iran, and Iraq – All United in Worship.” The first line of the article reads, “Famous Hebrew prophet declares God will bring peace to the Middle East by leading the region to love and worship Him.”
What would need to happen to transform the intense hatred between Middle Eastern nations into peace? It may be hard to comprehend this in 2026, but it was equally hard to conceive in 700 BC.
The Power of Prayer
Jesus wasn’t merely using prayer as a way to contrast human emotions when it comes to our enemies. He intended for His people to pray for their enemies.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
But I say to you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
So that you may be children of your Father in heaven, for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous” (Matthew 5:43-45),
I don’t know of anyone who knows the path to peace in the Middle East, but we can be quite confident that God knows the way. People who read my blog don’t have to know what will fulfill Isaiah’s prophecy of peace, but we all can pray for it to take place.
Let’s remember Jesus promise to people who pray:
“If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you” (John 15:7).
Here are a few thoughts on following Jesus’ directions in this verse.
(1) We first have to live in an abiding relationship with Jesus. Let’s work diligently to make sure our lives are aligned with God’s purposes as revealed by Jesus’ actions and teaching.
(2) Jesus’ words must abide in us. As we pray, let’s bring Isaiah’s prophecy in chapter 19 into the mix of our prayers. No doubt God loves the entire human race (John 3:16), and that includes hated enemies.
Let’s pray that God will fulfill Isaiah 19:18-25 as He sees fit.
(3) Every time we see a new story about the Middle East, we can pray a quick prayer on behalf of God’s will. He wants everyone to join in the worship of the Lord and Savior of the world, Jesus.
Whether we have thought about this or not, we all can be part of the peace process in the Middle East. We can pray God’s will over the situation and trust Him to act.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this on YouTube today.
Real Voices 