Isaiah 18 - Ethiopia

Ethiopia

Isa 18:1 Woe to the land shadowing with wings, which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia:

Not woe, but ho, Isaiah is speaking to Ethiopia, or actually Cush.The land shadowing with wings. Shadowing also is translated as whirring or buzzing, with wings. Many flying insects, such as the dragonflies near the marshes. Another interpretation would be the many winged vessels, with sails on the rivers.

Isa 18:2 That sendeth ambassadors by the sea, even in vessels of bulrushes upon the waters, saying, Go, ye swift messengers, to a nation scattered and peeled, to a people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation meted out and trodden down, whose land the rivers have spoiled!

Ethiopia sent ambassadors in vessels of woven bulrushes, sealed with pitch. These were the children of Ham who were very inventive using natural materials. They came asking to make an alliance against Assyria.

Isa 18:3 All ye inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth, see ye, when he lifteth up an ensign on the mountains; and when he bloweth a trumpet, hear ye.

All people listen to the LORD. This could be applied to Assyria or later on, at the last day battle against Jerusalem.

Isa 18:4 For so the LORD said unto me, I will take my rest, and I will consider in my dwelling place like a clear heat upon herbs, and like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.

God rests and is not concerned. He does not need the help of the Ethiopians against the Assyrians. He is well aware of world events, they unfold from the author of creation, past present and future. God knows all things.

Isa 18:5 For afore the harvest, when the bud is perfect, and the sour grape is ripening in the flower, he shall both cut off the sprigs with pruning hooks, and take away and cut down the branches.

The LORD shall prune back the Assyrian armies or in this parable, he also will destroy the invading end time armies coming against Israel.

Isa 18:6 They shall be left together unto the fowls of the mountains, and to the beasts of the earth: and the fowls shall summer upon them, and all the beasts of the earth shall winter upon them.

They shall beleft to the beasts and fowls of the earth.

Rev 19:17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
Rev 19:18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.

Isa 18:7 In that time shall the present be brought unto the LORD of hosts of a people scattered and peeled, and from a people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation meted out and trodden under foot, whose land the rivers have spoiled, to the place of the name of the LORD of hosts, the mount Zion.

Looking to the future, in that time, Ethiopia will present offerings to God in the temple on mount Zion. The man Simon, was an Ethiopian who carried the cross of Christ.

Mat 27:32 And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.

His children later were elders in the church.

Philip ministered to an Ethiopian Eunuch, a high official, in the desert and he received Christ as Lord.

Acts 8:34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?
Acts 8:35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
Acts 8:36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
Acts 8:37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
Acts 8:38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

What is this chapter saying? There are many different views of who God is speaking about. My conclusion; we trust in God, not man. No power on earth can stand against God who protects his people. All will perish, but those who come to Jesus shall live forever. God is greater than the might or the thoughts of man. That is how we were created, to be dependant on Him, and to trust and to obey him.