Isaiah 18:2
2 That sendeth [shalach]
ambassadors [tsiyr] by the sea [yam], even in vessels [kaliy] of
bulrushes [gome'] upon [paniym] the waters [mayim], saying,
Go [yalak], ye swift [qal] messengers [mal'ak], to a
nation [gowy] scattered [mashak] and peeled [mowrat], to a
people [`am] terrible [yare'] from their beginning hitherto [halaah]; a nation [gowy] meted out [qav-qav] and trodden down [mabuwcah],
whose land ['erets] the rivers [nahar] have spoiled [baza']! KJV-Interlinear
2 Which sends envoys by the sea, Even in papyrus vessels on the surface of the
waters. Go, swift messengers, to a nation tall and smooth, To a people feared
far and wide, A powerful and oppressive nation Whose land the rivers divide. NASB
Even though Africa is
made up of many nations, here in our passage the continent of Africa being
referred to as the lands beyond the rivers of Ethiopia, is being collectively
referred to as a nation, or group, or collective of peoples that have very
similar attributes. Those common attributes
being their penchant for evil. This has nothing to do with color or culture or
race or any other human attribute. Evil
is the common thread that, in this case, binds them all together as a single
group of people.
And this verse
describes the activities of the many peoples of Africa, from the perspective of
this prophecy.
They are a busy and
active group. Ambassadors by the sea is
a reference to the huge international trading or commerce activity.
In vessels of
bulrushes, refers to light ships, barges, even carts or in our current day would
refer to trucks which transport cargo and goods of all types. But back in those days, the ocean and rivers
were the predominant means of transportation around the through the continent.
And the message they
are commanded is to ‘Go.’
And since there is a
means of swift transportation and swift communication, today we have
television, internet, phones and such, whereas back then they had messengers
who traveled by boat, but were still able to get to even the far reaches of the
continent and even beyond that, in a generally quick manner even by their
standards.
So, in the end days of history
there will still be a means of swift communication and travel, despite the many
disasters and obstacles that will exist that one would think would hinder such
activity.
And if such
communication does exist, then messages and warnings of Gods wrath and the many
things that will be happening in the world in that future time, are also able
to be delivered or communicated. Which
again means that people have no excuse for not knowing what is going on in the
world.
To the people or many
peoples, that are scattered, or stretched out across a wide and diverse region. Which implies that these many distant regions
are nearly simultaneously accessable, or at least easily accessible by whatever
means of travel or communication is used.
Peeled, is a reference
to a stubborn people that have been peeled or made independent, but in a
perverse manner. They are separated from
truth and stubborn in their beliefs, and therefore wicked.
Terrible, ‘yare,’
refers to a people that you would be afraid of, a people to fear, who are
untrustworthy, and therefore a degenerate and unscrupulous people.
From their beginning,
refers to the fundamental nature inherent within their character. They are a lying and brutal and contemptuous people
and have been all of their lives.
Meted out, ‘qav-qav,’ means
to be fastened or stubborn.
Trodden down, ‘mabuwcah,’
means to trample underfoot, to loath.
This is a people that
has taken and never given back. They
have no concern for others, but only care for themselves.
The land the rivers
have spoiled, refers to the seasonal restoration of the land that comes from
the natural flooding and restoration of the land from silt and soil that the rivers
bring.
Even nature has a
greater respect for the land, than do the people who use the land.
This principle has a
broader application than just the abuse of the land, but applies to the abuse
of all of life in general. Commerce and
activity are more important than the abuse of people.
And as the world in
those latter days, will be full of human suffering, most folks will be thinking
more of their secular priorities, than human compassion, and certainly not thinking
of God or anything that deals with the ‘end of days’ period in which they will
be living. Somehow that concept just won’t
seem to apply.
