Isaiah 19:19-25: a reflection

19In that day, there will be an altar to the LORD in the middle of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the LORD at its border. 20It will be for a sign and for a witness to the LORD of Armies in the land of Egypt; for they will cry to the LORD because of oppressors, and he will send them a savior and a defender, and he will deliver them. 21The LORD will be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will know the LORD in that day. Yes, they will worship with sacrifice and offering, and will vow a vow to the LORD, and will perform it. 22The LORD will strike Egypt, striking and healing. They will return to the LORD, and he will be entreated by them, and will heal them. 23In that day there will be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria; and the Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians. 24In that day, Israel will be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, a blessing within the earth; 25because the LORD of Armies has blessed them, saying, “Blessed be Egypt my people, Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel my inheritance.”

After a long word of judgment on Egypt, Isaiah gives an astonishing promise of mercy, reaching to the very enemies of God's people. In that day, he says, there will be an altar to the LORD in the middle of the land of Egypt; the Egyptians will know the LORD, and worship him; and Assyria too will be joined in. And God says of these former enemies words once reserved for Israel alone: Blessed be Egypt my people, Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel my inheritance. Egypt and Assyria, the great oppressors of God's people, are promised a day when they too will know the Lord and be called his people, gathered in alongside Israel. This is mercy reaching far beyond expected bounds, gathering in former enemies, calling outsiders my people. God's mercy is wider than we imagine; it reaches even to those we would count enemies and outsiders, to gather them as his own. No one is beyond the reach of the mercy that would gather them in.

Notice how far God's mercy reaches in this promise: to Egypt and Assyria, the enemies and oppressors of his people. These were not friends of Israel; they were the great powers that had afflicted and enslaved and threatened God's people. Yet God promises a day when they will know him, worship him, and be called his people, the work of his hands, gathered alongside Israel. This is astonishing: the mercy of God reaching to former enemies, calling outsiders my people. It tells us that God's mercy is wider than we imagine, not confined to those already his, but reaching out to gather in even those we would count enemies and outsiders. No one is so far off, so much an enemy or outsider, as to be beyond the reach of the mercy that would gather them in. This is the largeness of God's heart, foreshadowing the day when people of every nation would be gathered as his own. God's mercy overflows the bounds we would set for it, reaching even to enemies. The reach of God's mercy is wider than any of us would draw it.

That is worth resting in, for God's mercy reaches even to former enemies and outsiders, to gather them as his own. We can imagine God's mercy as confined to those already his, and think certain people, enemies, outsiders, beyond its reach; but God promised to gather even Egypt and Assyria, the oppressors of his people, calling them my people and the work of my hands. God's mercy is wider than we imagine, reaching even to those we would count enemies and outsiders. No one is beyond the reach of the mercy that would gather them in. When you think anyone beyond God's mercy, remember that he promised to gather even Egypt and Assyria as his own. Rest in the width of God's mercy, which reaches even to former enemies and outsiders to gather them as his own, as he promised that Egypt and Assyria, the oppressors of his people, would know him and be called my people and the work of my hands; for God's mercy is wider than the bounds we would set for it, reaching beyond those already his to gather in even those we would count enemies and outsiders, so that no one is so far off as to be beyond the reach of the mercy that would gather them in.

Lord, after a long word of judgment on Egypt, Isaiah gives an astonishing promise of mercy, reaching to the very enemies of your people. In that day, he says, there will be an altar to the LORD in the middle of the land of Egypt; the Egyptians will know the LORD, and worship him; and Assyria too will be joined in. And you say of these former enemies words once reserved for Israel alone: Blessed be Egypt my people, Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel my inheritance. Egypt and Assyria, the great oppressors of your people, are promised a day when they too will know you and be called your people. This is mercy reaching far beyond expected bounds. Show me how far your mercy reaches in this promise: to Egypt and Assyria, the enemies and oppressors of your people. These were not friends of Israel; they were the great powers that had afflicted and threatened your people. Yet you promise a day when they will know you, worship you, and be called your people. This is astonishing: your mercy reaching to former enemies, calling outsiders my people. It tells me that your mercy is wider than I imagine, reaching out to gather in even those I would count enemies and outsiders. No one is so far off as to be beyond the reach of the mercy that would gather them in. Let me rest in that, for your mercy reaches even to former enemies and outsiders, to gather them as your own. I can imagine your mercy as confined to those already yours, and think certain people beyond its reach; but you promised to gather even Egypt and Assyria, calling them my people. When I think anyone beyond your mercy, help me remember that you promised to gather even Egypt and Assyria as your own, Lord, for your mercy is wider than the bounds I would set for it.