Stelae from the Tiya, Ethiopia (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Scripture Reference: Isaiah 18

This prophecy is believed to refer to Ethiopia. My aim was to find the relevance of these words for us today and to look at the life lessons that can be learnt. I saw seven life lessons in Isaiah 18 which I am sharing in this post:

1. Many great and formidable nations who today leave others in awe of their power, may tomorrow be nothing before God’s judgments. Very quickly they can become easy prey to their enemies and even despicable in the sight of other nations. Leaders who are greedy to enrich themselves and who are hungry for power will, in their selfish pursuits, often get involved in contentions with other countries and this very greed is often the result of their downfall. As a nation, God’s people too find themselves trampled on by the powerful of this world. But those who persecute them will soon find that these people are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed but not in despair; persecuted but not abandoned; struck down but not destroyed (see 2 Corinthians 4:8-9).
2. God always gives advanced notice when He is about to do something great. Here we see the entire world is commanded to take notice of what He is about to do: “All you people of the world, you who live on the earth, when a banner is raised on the mountains, you will see it, and when a trumpet sounds, you will hear it.” Everyone is invited to witness the actions of the Creator of this universe. He invites them to come over to His side and tells them that when these words become a reality, there will be no mistaking that it has happened by His powerful hand. It will not go down silently. It’s hard to miss the sounding of a trumpet.
3. Sometimes we may get the impression that God is a disinterested spectator to the affairs of this world. But this is not the case. It never was and never will be. He is known to appear in season at the perfect time to comfort His people and confuse His enemies. Although ungodly men have much to say, God will also have His say and we know that His word is eternal. His word shall never pass away. It may appear as if God has distanced Himself from the way this world is governed by corrupt leaders, but God’s watchful eye does not miss a thing and His mind is never in an agitated state as if He has lost control. In the midst of all the storms of this world, God remains King over the flood. The psalmists often asked God to wake up from His sleeping, because when things get tough, that is how it may appear to us from a human point of view. But we know that He who watches over His people never slumbers nor sleeps. He remains their Keeper from this time forth forever more. Neither is God ever taken by surprise by events in this world. He knows the end from the beginning. He also knows precisely what He will do and the exact time He will do it.
4. God will continually take care of His people. He is their hiding place and He is their refuge. He will guide them with His eye. There is no need to fear because God is faithful. He is not here today and gone tomorrow. He is not a man that He should lie. Even though it appears to us at times as if He has abandoned us, we can always trust His heart when we can’t trace His hand. The plans He has towards His people are plans to prosper them and not to harm them –to give them a hope and a future. He is their Shepherd and they shall never be in want of anything needful. His will towards them is good, perfect and pleasing. He will not give His children a snake when they asked for a piece of bread. He restores their soul when they grow tired of this journey through life. No matter the intensity of the storm, God is always bigger and more powerful. Those that wait upon the Lord shall run and not grow weary. They will walk and not be faint. They will rise up on wings like eagles. Whatever our needs may be, God will supply in His perfect time.
5. God will deal with His enemies. Just when they think they have the upper hand over His people He will swiftly cause their plans to come to nothing and ultimately they will be completely destroyed.
6. God is worthy of our praise. The fact that He is worthy of praise will be even more evident when He has accomplished all He had in mind for this world and when people repent and turn to Him. Even among the nations that endured God’s judgments there will be those who turn to their God in faith and this will result in indescribable praise and exaltation of the Lord Almighty. They may have appeared worthless in the eyes of others, but He will become their Saviour too. They will be an acceptable offering to the Lord, because He doesn’t judge by outward appearances –He looks at the heart. He doesn’t look at status, and education and any other external attribute which may be praised by men.
7. Those that trample on others will be trampled on themselves. God will honour His people although they may be despised by the who’s who of this world. He is the lifter of their heads. He will restore the fortunes of His people and those who sow in tears will reap in joy.

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• Life Lessons from Place Names in Isaiah (jesuscarriesme.com)
• God’s Attributes (helpedbygrace.wordpress.com)