大馬色、古實與埃及是第二批受到先知口誅筆伐的國家。大馬色的榮耀將要離去，徒留瘦弱削薄的身體與靈魂，但會有少數人悔改，就像橄欖樹上僅存的橄欖一般，卻也為未來的收成提供了盼望。古實百姓則在戰火中仆倒，正如樹枝遭到修剪一樣，終有一天，他們會來到錫安尊崇上帝，宣告祂是他們的至高者。埃及還要歷經內戰、經濟崩潰、靈性貧乏的痛苦，在在都顯示出埃及假神的分崩離析！

        借助世界地圖，回答下列問題：
        1.你能找出巴比倫的位置嗎？為什麼不能？(賽13：19－20)
        2.你能找出摩押的位置嗎？為什麼不能？ (賽15：1)
        3.你能找出古實的位置嗎？為什麼？(賽18：l,5,7)
        4.你能找出埃及的位置嗎？為什麼？(賽19：1,4,16,24)
        上帝不只是打擊諸國，祂也支持他們、懲戒他們、潔淨他們，並且預備他們扮演普世性的角色。
        若說上帝懲戒及潔淨古實或埃及或澳洲或美國，也就是說上帝懲戒及潔淨古實人、埃及人、澳州人和美國人，其過程鮮有令人愉悅的，結果卻總是有益的！
        把你的生命想成一棵樹。你是否深深的被上帝話語的豐富所吸引？你生命中的「枝葉」是否需要修剪？如果以賽亞以「你的重擔」為一章之始，該怎麼讀？參看以賽亞書十七章七節，願這節經文引導你以上帝對你的期許作為回應。

上帝在人類歷史中每一個震怒的審判，其實都是祂的保護。

English

        Damascus, Ethiopia, and Egypt next feel the chastening strokes from Isaiah's prophetic pen. The glory of Damascus would be removed, leaving behind leanness of body and soul. But a handful would repent and, like the last gleanings from an olive tree, provide hope for a future harvest. Ethiopia's people would be pruned away like branches and would fall in battle. Hut one day they would come to Zion and pay homage to God, acknowledging Him as their Sovereign. Egypt would experience civil war, economic ruin, and spiritual poverty, showing the bankruptcy of Egypt's false gods.

        With the help of an atlas or map of the world, answer the following questions:
        1.Can you locate Babylon? Why not? (13:19-20)
        2.Can you locate Moab? Why not? (15:1)
        3.Can you locate Ethiopia? Why? (18:1, 5, 7)
        4.Can you locale Egypt? Why? (19:1, 4, 16, 24)
        God is not merely in the business of casting down nations; He also sustains them, chastens them, purifies them, and prepares them for the worldwide role He has for them to play.
        To say that God chastens and purifies Ethiopia or Egypt or Australia or America is to say that God chastens and purifies Ethiopians, Egyptians, Australians, and Americans, The process is seldom pleasant, but it is always beneficial.
        Think of your life as if it were a tree. Have you been drawing deeply from the nutrients of God's Word? Are you well watered or experiencing drought? Are there "branches" of your life that need pruning? If Isaiah began a chapter, "The burden of... you!" how would it read? Take the words of 17:7 and let them guide you to the response God desires from you right now.

A Noisy Shadow (18:1) —
        Ethiopia, a land "shadowing with wings," is literally a land "whirring with wings." The Hebrew term is similar to the word fsetse, imitating the sound of buzzing insects.

Every wrathful judgment of God in the history of the world has been a holy act of preservation.