Advent readings, Day 10 - Isaiah 19: 18-25

 Isaiah 19: 18-25  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 center of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the Lord at its border. 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 worship with sacrifice and burnt offering, and they will make vows to the Lord and perform them. The Lord will strike Egypt, striking and healing; they will return to the Lord, and he will listen to their supplications and heal them. 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 worship with the Assyrians. On that day Israel will be the third 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 offers an expansive view of how God will be at work.  Egypt, historically the land of Israel's oppressors, and  Assyria, the world power that threatens Israel, will join with Israel in worshiping God.  A reminder that God's redeeming work is for all the world, not just the Israelites.  In our time when the world seems particularly polarized, it is a fascinating vision.  Can you imagine all in our world sharing the same faith in God?  Of course, an age-old question comes from this vision -- do we force the Christian faith on others as part of living out God's vision, or does the God who comes in Christ, the Prince of Peace, have a different vision for how all the world will join together in worship?