Isaiah 19:14-15

Though the wise men of Egypt could not reveal God’s actions (cf. Isaiah 19:1), the prophet of God could and did. The Lord had confounded the wisdom of the Egyptian leaders because they had resorted to idols and spirits rather than seeking Him (Isaiah 19:3; cf. Genesis 11:1-9; Romans 1:18-32). Consequently their national behavior resembled that of a drunken man, not knowing where to turn and befouling himself in the messes that he made. Such a person cannot accomplish anything productive, and neither would Egypt. How foolish Judah would be to trust in such a disabled drunk of a nation!

"To join with Egypt would be to associate with a nation under divine wrath (1), trust the promises of a divided people (2), look for help to a collapsing economy (5-10), expect wisdom where there was only folly (11-13) and believe that those who were unable to solve their own problems (15) could solve the problems of others!" [Note: Ibid., p. 166.]

The following section (Isaiah 19:16-25) gives the Lord’s solution, point by point, to the problems of Egypt and, for that matter, of all powers and people that leave God out. The repetition of "in that day" (Isaiah 19:16; Isaiah 19:18-19; Isaiah 19:23-24) highlights a time yet future when God will reverse Egypt’s fortunes. Isaiah used this phrase 42 times, comprising half of all its occurrences in the prophets and a quarter of those in the Old Testament. The same "Yahweh Almighty" who would bring the former smiting (Isaiah 19:4; Isaiah 19:12) would also bring healing (Isaiah 19:18; Isaiah 19:20; Isaiah 19:25). Why turn to Egypt for help when one day Egypt will turn to Yahweh?