Tom Craig - Isaiah 19 As A Guide For A Region in Crisis

Greetings. My name is Tom
Craig, I'm the Middle

East Co-ordinator for IC
J. And we're going to be

speaking in this session
about leading in times of

crisis from Isaiah
Chapter 19, which is a

very important passage
for those of us living

and working in the Middle
East region. And for many

years, we've focused on
this together with

leaders from Egypt, and
all across the nations of

the Middle East, which we
refer to as a Syria from

Isaiah is prophet as well
as those here in Israel,

both Jews and Arabs. And
it's exciting to see how

the Lord is developing
strong relational

network, across these
nations, even in

relationships between
Jewish and Middle Eastern

believers for such a time
as this, as we see more

and more shakings taking
place in the world, and

crises facing those of us
who are following Jesus

and longing to see his
kingdom come. So I'm

going to be sharing some
of the principles that

we've spent many years
praying over and

discussing and working
together to develop

understanding and an
ability to support one

another in times of
crisis. And so I'd like

to start by just giving
you a brief overview from

Isaiah chapter 19, that
it speaks primarily about

the nation of Egypt and
what God intends to do,

before Jesus returns in
that nation speaks of a

great transformation of
what's going to happen in

Egypt during those days.
And it's amazing to see

what he has planned for
the nation of Egypt, he

speaks about a time of
judgment coming, that's

going to be very severe.
And it's going to address

a lot of the issues in
the hearts of the

Egyptians that hinder
them from knowing God and

loving him. And it's
going to be a difficult

time, somewhat what is
similar to what we're

beginning to experience
worldwide, that this is

specifically about the
nation of Egypt and a

speaks about things like
civil unrest that's going

to affect the nation, and
break out in all parts of

the nation and cause
great consternation and

difficulty in society. As
well as there's going to

be a resurgence of
idolatry and looking to

even spiritists and
mediums to try to help in

the time of trouble,
which is only going to

further complicate and
caused problems in Egypt.

But as well, we see that
already happening in many

ways, people turning to
the occult and other

kinds of things for help.
It also speaks of natural

disasters, like the Nile
River drying up in Egypt,

and the people there are
going to have to struggle

to survive, and there
won't be able, they won't

be able to work in those
difficult times. As well,

the political situation
is going to be in great

confusion and actually
will break down in terms

of their ability to
respond and help the

Egyptian people in those
days. All of these things

are described in the
earlier verses of Isaiah

chapter 19. Then when we
come to verse 16, shift

takes place and what God
focuses on in that

prophecy to Isaiah. And
he begins to describe the

outcomes that he wants to
see happen. And so I

believe, as leaders we
can learn a lot from

these verses, the final
verses of Isaiah 19,

about what God intends
not only in the land of

Egypt, but looking at
Egypt as an example, or a

prototype of what's going
to be happening all over

the world. And even now,
in our day, we're

beginning to see these
things unfold and the

beginning of shakings or
birth pangs that we see

happening. So it speaks
in verses 16 and 17. I'll

just summarize from our
understanding and study

and prayer into these
verses for many years,

that it's speaking about.
God desires to release

the fear of the Lord,
through the shakings that

are taking place through
the judgments that will

unfold. His heart's
desire is to see the fear

of himself the fear of
God

being Released in the
hearts of people, that

they would turn to him
instead of to idols or to

other things that they've
hoped in and depended on,

that they would begin to
open up and realize that

he's sovereign, that he's
their Creator, and that

he has every right to
their lives and for them

to surrender to his
leadership in their

lives. And so that's what
we see happening in

verses 16 and 17, of
Isaiah 19, in the land of

Egypt at that time that
they begin to really be

overwhelmed by the fear
of the Lord, and what

he's doing what he's
allowing to happen. And

so as leaders, I believe,
we can learn from that.

And this can become a
principle of our prayer

and our sharing with
others that they would

consider the sovereignty
of God, His Lordship, his

right to rule over his
creation. And they should

turn their hearts to him
and call upon him for

mercy for forgiveness,
that there should be

repentance and turning
back to him in these

times, as well. Then as
we go into verse 18, it

speaks about whole
communities of believers

in Egypt will gather
together in these times

of judgment in this time
of striking that Isaiah

describes, and they will
be calling out to God

they will be speaking in
the language of Canaan,

it says in this
particular verse, which

means that they're
actually in Egypt,

learning the language of
Hebrew, and aligning with

God's heart and plan for
the nation of Israel

believers. And we see
that happening. This is

in the last many years,
from our experience, and

going into Egypt and
interacting with

believers there, many of
them are learning Hebrew,

they're wanting to
identify more with the

God of Israel, with even
his feasts and Shabbat

and things, various
things in their

understanding biblically
of the Hebrew roots of

their faith, so much so
that they would learn

Hebrew. And we can
encourage believers all

over the world as these
things are taking place

that it's about God's
kingdom, being restored

with the nation of
Israel, the Jewish people

as well coming to know
him. And that we are to

have an understanding of
his ways and align with

him. Now, that may not
mean everybody needs to

start learning Hebrew
right now. But this is

what's going to happen in
Egypt, apparently, from

what Isaiah 19 speaks
about. He also says

they're going to swear
allegiance to the Lord

that speaks of great
commitment and devotion

to the Lord. And to his
end time purpose is to

establish His Kingdom on
the earth as the Lord of

hosts, that they're going
to swear allegiance are

going to lie into his
purposes and agree with

what he wants to do, to
see his kingdom come even

if that means turning
over the nation of Egypt,

upside down, and
uprooting the strongholds

that are there, and
bringing his kingdom,

shaking everything that
can be shaken so that

what remains is the
kingdom of God, even in

nations like Egypt.
That's what we learned

from that. So I believe
as we're seeing shakings

beginning to happen in
our world today, that's

what we want to be
encouraging people around

us to understand God's
purpose and plan of how

his kingdoms coming and
align with that agree

with that, and say yes to
it, swear allegiance to

the Lord of hosts, who's
going to fight for the

kingdom of God to come
upon the earth. It goes

on to speak about an
altar in the heart of

Egypt and a monument
dedicated to the Lord on

the border of Egypt. All
of this speaks again of

great devotion, and
worship of God going on,

among those who have
turned to the Lord and

believe in Him in the
land of Egypt. So again,

as leaders in times of
crisis we want to call

people to worship the
Lord, we want to call

them to greater devotion,
and consecration times of

prayer, and fasting and
again of repentance and,

and just worshiping him
for who he is and the

beauty of His Holiness.
He's worthy of that. And

that's what we won't want
to as leaders focus on is

calling people back to
the Lord to the Lord, in

times of crisis. It goes
on to say not only will

he be worshiped in Egypt,
but he will actually be

known by the Egyptians in
a deep and intimate way

and they will make
sacrifices vows to the

Lord and keep them. So I
believe it's again,

speaking of great
discipleship of people

coming to know the Lord
discipling them into an

intimate knowledge of who
he is being devoted to

him in every way, even in
all of their life's

ambitions, that they
really want to serve Him

and wholeheartedly. And
they're sincerely from

their hearts. So this is
what leaders should be

focusing on in our own
lives. And as we lead

other people, through
times of crisis is to

know the Lord to press
in, to know Him, to grow

in intimacy with him, and
really long to be

obedient and followers of
him as his sons and

daughters growing in
relationship with him,

and then it, it goes on
to say that as well,

there's going to be a
real connection between

Egypt and the other
nations of the Middle

East, it speaks of a
highway that's going to

be raised up in Isaiah
19.

highway that facilitates
believers going back and

forth between those
nations of the Middle

East or a Syria and Egypt
to worship together. So

this worship and devotion
is like a spirit of

revival all over the
nations of the Middle

East, where they want to
be together and longing

to meet together and in
their various nations

going back and forth on
this highway for the

purpose of serving the
Lord or worshiping him

together. And that's
exciting. I believe,

again, as we see dark and
difficult days coming

upon the earth. God wants
us to believe for a great

outpouring of his spirit,
and revival to take place

in the midst of that. And
as leaders, we want to

lead people into that
spirit of revival and of

seeking the Lord pursuing
him and worship together

all across the nations
linking together in

various ways, not only in
zoom, as we have been

these months, during this
pandemic period. But as

things begin to unfold in
greater ways we would be

stretching our faith to
see greater expressions

of revival and awakening
taking place across the

nations. That's what
we're believing for in

the Middle East. And we
believe that we're going

to see that in the coming
season great outbreaks of

the Holy Spirit moving in
these nations and

bringing harvest,
bringing many souls into

the kingdom. And so
that's what Isaiah 19

gives us an idea that
that's what God intends

to do in these nations.
And as leaders, we want

to join him in what he's
doing, then it speaks of

as well, there being
great reconciliation and

blessing blessing back
and forth between the

nation's and the
connection of hearts and

reconciled relationships.
So it speaks of how even

Egypt with the nations of
the Middle East or a

Syria are connecting
together with Israel,

which is phenomenal that
we're beginning to see

these breakthroughs
taking place in the

cultures and nations of
the Middle East. But it's

got to be rooted and
grounded in the knowledge

of Yeshua as the Messiah,
and worshiping God

through him. And that's
what we're going to see

in the coming days is a
great move of the Holy

Spirit, bringing
salvation and

reconciliation to these
nations. The nations that

are made up of the
descendants of Abraham

and I believe are what
we're seeing even today

in the Abrahamic courts
is the beginning of God

opening the door for a
great move of the spirit

that's going to lead and
usher many people into

the kingdom. So we want
to be understanding God's

purposes agreed with him
that reconciliation, the

healing of the hearts of
peoples across the

nations is what he
intends, and especially

together with Israel,
that it's going to

recreate a blessing in
the whole earth. as Jews

and Gentiles come
together and become that

one new man that Paul
spoke about in Ephesians

chapter two. Along with
that, then we can expect

God's outpouring of
blessing upon the people

who believe and his full
restoration of Israel,

the salvation of Israel,
and his kingdom coming

upon the earth as it is
in heaven. This is what I

see in Isaiah 19 we've
been encouraging

believers across the
Middle East for years

with these ideas and and
outcomes that God speaks

about and how we can
cooperate together to see

those things happen. So
much so that through the

times of shaking during
the Arab Spring and how

it impacts Did Egypt and
other nations in the

region, there was great
prayer and support and

intercession from
believers all over the

world, and especially in
the middle east towards

one another, as well,
even more recently,

during the the explosion
that took place in the

port of Beirut, we rally
together, the believers

all over the Middle East.
And we had many meetings

on zoom and people
sending financial

support. Maybe some of
you participated that in

that with ICJ, there was
finances raised to help

the the Christians in
Beirut, to reach out and

minister to people in a
time of crisis. And we

stood with them and
encourage them and they

were awesome as they
reached out, even in

their own difficulty, to
minister to 1000s of

people giving food,
helping to repair their

homes, and using the
finances that were

pouring in from around
the Middle East and

nations all over the
world. And we're so

grateful for that. And
that's what God wants us

to do in these times of
crisis is support one

another, unite together
and help to see many

souls impacted and
brought into the Kingdom

during those times. And
we're gonna see greater

and greater opportunities
in times of crisis for

that to happen. So these
are things that we want

to tune into God's heart,
his word, his ways, and

be prepared for in these
coming days. So I hope

that you'll continue to
study his his word, find

these things in Scripture
like Isaiah 19 and other

key passages that speak
about the times of

trouble the times of
crisis that surely we're

beginning to enter into,
but God wants us to see

them as times of
opportunity to reach out

and touch the lives of
many NC many come into

His kingdom. So Bless
you. I hope that this

envision conference is an
encouragement to you. And

I encourage you to listen
to the other seminars

from the Middle East
leaders from Iran and

Egypt, who also have
helped to do seminar

content for this
conference. I think

you'll be blessed as you
hear from them. And God

bless you and may God use
you powerfully and

wonderfully, again to
encourage and lead others

through these times and
to see many come into His

kingdom be established,
strengthened and prepared

for his return. So God
bless you and may you

have a wonderful fruitful
year and 2021