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V. 9-11 Strong cities will be like a lowly branch, a forsaken bough.  All because, in V. 10, they have
               forgotten the God of their salvation.

               Because of their disobedience, they will plant but not harvest.

               V. 12-14 This section refers to the nations who would attack and plunder Israel.  Remember that even
               though God allowed them to persecute Israel, they were still punished for doing so.   These nations will
               be blown away as chaff is blown away…that’s the ‘portion’ of those who plunder God’s people.


                                       Chapter 18
                                       With the destruction of Israel’s enemies comes this promise to bless another
                                       group of people.

                                       V. 1-2 First comes woe to the neighboring country, beyond Ethiopia, or Cush.
               There was much trade between the nations around Israel and the Cushites, even though they were
               separated by around 1500 miles.

               V. 3-6 The judgment proclaimed here is against the Assyrians, perennial enemies of almost every other
               nation. All inhabitants of the world will see the destruction of this enemy.  This, and blowing the
               trumpet, will be ultimately fulfilled in the last days.

               Cutting off the sprigs and cutting down the branches probably refers to 2 Kings 19: 35, when an Angel of
               the Lord killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers.

               V. 7 A present, a gift will be to the Lord from the people of Cush.

               This chapter is a classic representation of the value God places of people of all ethnicities.  The
               Ethiopians were a tall, smooth skinned people, and although it is not mentioned here, obviously dark
               skinned.  I read this in the book:  ‘Ethnicity is from God. Racism is from man.’

               What is the gift to the Lord from these people? It is the worship of the One True God.  In Acts 8 is the
               passage of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch.  Almost without a doubt, this man took his new-found faith
               and trust in Christ to his homeland, and a Christian Church was established there.


                                       Chapter 19-20 Main Idea: God judges Egypt, completely stripping her
                                       of pride in every area—militarily, economically, politically,
                                       religiously—so that He can save some Egyptians through Christ.

                                       There was a time, a pretty significant length of time, when Egypt was the
                                                              nd
               most powerful nation on earth.  Today, Egypt is 102  on the list of nations in the world in terms of per
               capita economic strength.

               Most people think of the pyramids when they think of Egypt, which stands as a testimony of the power
               that they once held.  They also, however, bear testimony to the great fall that has taken place.




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