I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Isaiah 17-21.

    I am not sure that my title today quite captures what this passage says to me today. The prophet predicts the downfall of Damascus, the Northern Kingdom of Israel, Egypt, Cush (Ethiopia), Babylon, Edom and Kedar (Arabia). The writer describes how when the disaster he is predicting comes to pass, the people will turn to God. The disaster will come because people have forgotten God, they no longer honor or worship Him. As a result of this failure to honor God all of their efforts to obtain wealth are futile. While the prophet initially refers to the people of Israel coming back to God after disaster strikes, he later predicts that the people of other nations (Egypt and Cush in this passage) will come to God after disaster strikes their land.
    There are two points I want to focus on. Let us not forget God when times are good and thus bring disaster upon ourselves and those around us. And, let us remember that sometimes God allows disaster to strike in order to give us the opportunity to show Him to those who might never otherwise be receptive to His love.