Daily Devotional 11/22/16 - To Smite And To Heal

Published: 22 November 2016

By Bryce Lowrance

http://harmonypb.org/grace-plus-nothing/2016/nov/22/daily-devotional-112216-smite-and-heal/

“In that day shall five cities in the land of Egypt speak the language of Canaan, and swear to the Lord of hosts; one shall be called, The city of destruction. In that day shall there be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof to the Lord. And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt: for they shall cry unto the Lordbecause of the oppressors, and he shall send them a saviour, and a great one, and he shall deliver them. And the Lord shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the Lord in that day, and shall do sacrifice and oblation; yea, they shall vow a vow unto the Lord, and perform it. And the Lord shall smite Egypt: he shall smite and heal it: and they shall return even to the Lord, and he shall be intreated of them, and shall heal them.” (Isaiah 19:18-22)

On the heels of one of the most dire prophecies against a nation in the Bible, we see that Isaiah offer the country of Egypt a hope for future revival in the times of the Messiah and the New Testament Church.

The Messiah and the New Testament Church sprang from the Jewish nation. Therefore, a promise that this land would speak the language of the Jews if a promise they will find hope found in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The true Son of Righteousness will be worshipped in the city that was once the center for worship of the sun.

The worship of the Lord Jesus in a New Testament church will be prominent in a land once filled with idolatry.

How is all of this possible?

Because God will not only smite the nation, He will also heal it with the Balm of Gilead. We can now see that the harsh judgments of God prophesied before were not for the annihilation of Egypt but for chastisement.

God can, and does, bring judgment into nations and into individuals to bring about a radical change. He does this in love, not hate. Therefore, we should worship Him in thankfulness.
“Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:” (Psalm 50:14)