Isaiah 18

It is a mind-expanding experience to visit another land. More than likely the people we meet there may speak, eat, and behave differently than the hometown group that we are most accustomed to. If a person is wealthy enough, they may have some first-hand experience with neighboring nations, but relatively few people have ever been to a very exotic location. If that is true in the cosmopolitan era that we live in, it was certainly the case in the Ancient Near East of Isaiah's day.

While the prophet seemed to be very aware of the neighboring lands, in this chapter he addresses the more remote land of Cush (southern Egypt and beyond). We get the sense that we are talking about an exotic people that are far away from Israel in every way. Nonetheless the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob has something to say to the most remote nations. The people of Cush are stirring up other surrounding nations, mighty conquerers who are "tall and smooth," feared by others near and far. They are perhaps flexing their muscles together against the Assyrians. If they can gather the nations of the remote world of African tribes in a powerful assault against their enemies, perhaps they will prevail.

Then God addresses all the inhabitants of the world through His prophet. God is not threatened by the fierce alliances of men. His plans are not overturned by the strategies and capabilities of strange nations. He is like a Gardener over all the earth and the people groups of all lands are quietly pruned or rooted out as He sees fit. If he wants to destroy a powerful nation, and give their land to the wild beasts, this is not a hard thing for Him to do.

What is very surprising is that at the end of this chapter, the Lord announces that the tribal nations that Cush is joining together will instead be assembled by God to bring worship to the Lord of heaven and earth. Isaiah uses the same language as He did in the beginning of the chapter to describe these distant groups. They are "a people tall and smooth." They are "a people feared near and far." They are "a nation mighty and conquering." But the Lord of hosts will bring them to "Mount Zion."

Surely God is not bringing tribal nations from Africa on pilgrimage to the earthly Jerusalem. Yet many Africans have been streaming up the heavenly Mount Zion as believers in Jesus Christ. They serve this one Davidic King, the Jewish Messiah who atoned for the sins of both Jews and Gentiles. What mercy the Lord is showing! His plan is for redemption of far off people groups. Now we can call one another brothers and sisters in Christ though our customs may be very different. What unites us is far more substantial than what may divide us. We are in Christ, and we bring our lives as tribute to the crucified and victorious Savior who has led us up the holy mountain to God through His resurrection and ascension.