2/21/26

Do you ever wonder why God allows us to face struggles? Brokenness and hurt do not seem like things a loving Lord would allow. However, it is not until we feel the hurt of the consequences and wages of our sin that we desire grace and mercy. Our text says, Isaiah 19:22 NASB95 The LORD will strike Egypt, striking but healing; so they will return to the LORD, and He will respond to them and will heal them.

LORD is Yahweh the Self-Existent One, it is He who will allow and by allowing is responsible for the striking or pain and suffering that comes with sin. This can be difficult to understand, but God, He is a just God. That means everything He does must follow justice. He is the only true, unbiased, and righteous judge. Deuteronomy 32:4 NASB95 “The Rock! His work is perfect, For all His ways are just; A God of faithfulness and without injustice, Righteous and upright is He.

His sentence is perfect and in this perfect judgment, He allows the consequences and wages of sin to be administered on all who sin.

Since all have sinned, then all deserve His complete, and just, judgment. So when Isaiah says "The LORD will strike Egypt," we know that Egypt deserves to be struck. So do we. However, through the LORD's judgment of Egypt, we can learn something that is applicable to us as well.

Our text says that He is "striking but healing; so they will return to the LORD."

His goal is always to bring about repentance. That means, a turning from their disobedient and ungodly ways, and turning towards God in Obedience and seeking the LORD.

Although he has to judge with righteousness and justice. He does this with the purpose of revealing to us our lostness when we have wandered away from Him.

Our text then says, when we repent or return, that "He will respond to them and will heal them."

He will answer our seeking with a response of healing, that is forgiveness, with mercy to avoid the punishment and grace to be rewarded with His presence.

He explains how he can do this, just a few verses earlier. He has a sinless (no need for judgment) substitute who will pay our penalty and submit to our sentence. In this case He is speaking of Egypt sentence. Isaiah 19:20 NASB95 It will become a sign and a witness to the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt; for they will cry to the LORD because of oppressors, and He will send them a Savior and a Champion, and He will deliver them.

Jesus came to save even the nation that held His people captive in slavery. He came to save even me and you who sin against Him by doubting Him because of suffering for our own sin. We try to blame the LORD for allowing what we deserve.

We must remember that He has to because He is a just Lord. However, His purpose is always redemption through His Son, our Savior.

Isaiah 19:22 NASB95 The LORD will strike Egypt, striking but healing; so they will return to the LORD, and He will respond to them and will heal them.

Love Bro. Scott