This chapter will prophecy how Assyria is to conquer both Egypt and Ethiopia. We need to think about how the king of Assyria is a like for the antichrist at the end times. Isaiah 20 and verse 1 reads.
Isa.20:1] In the year that Tartan came unto Ashdod, (when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him,) and fought against Ashdod, and took it;
We can find in 2Kings 18:12 the reason that God let Assyria take the fenced cities of Judah also at that time, because they had forsaken the LORD and the commandments given by Moses.
Isa.20:2] At the same time spake the LORD by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, Go and loose the sackcloth from off thy loins, and put off thy shoe from thy foot. And he did so, walking naked and barefoot.
The LORD tells Isaiah to do this as a sign for them. Let’s go to Zec.13 and verse 4 reads.
Zec.13:4] And it shall come to pass in that day, that the prophets shall be ashamed every one of his vision, when he hath prophesied; neither shall they wear a rough garment to deceive:
Here in Zechariah we find this sign for the end times is for false prophets, or false teachers in our churches today. But, Isaiah being a true prophet of the LORD, could be seen in Matthew 3, let’s pick it up with verse 1 and it reads.
Mat.3:1] In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
[2] And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Christ would be coming in the flesh, repent and be forgiven of your sins.
Mat.3:3] For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
[4] And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.
The clothing and food of a prophet, for a sign to the people.
Mat.3:5] Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,
[6] And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
How would anyone at that time know of Christ and his coming if they were not taught God’s word. The same can be said for us today, how can we know the second advent is coming if we don’t read God’s word. Back to Isa.20 and verse 3 reads.
Isa.20:3] And the LORD said, Like as my servant Isaiah hath walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and wonder upon Egypt and upon Ethiopia;
Ethiopia here is H3568 Kûwsh in Hebrew and means; Cush or Black. 4. the land occupied by the descendants of Cush located around the southern parts of the Nile (Ethiopia). We’ll come back to this in a minute.
Isa.20:4] So shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptians prisoners, and the Ethiopians captives, young and old, naked and barefoot, even with their buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt.
We must remember for sake of prophecy, that the king of Assyria is a like for the antichrist at the end times. Satan will take the whole world captive at the sixth trump.
Isa.20:5] And they shall be afraid and ashamed of Ethiopia their expectation, and of Egypt their glory.
This word Ethiopia is not a place or a people but rather a part of speech. We find it is H4480 and simply being a part of speech (preposition) meaning; more than. When we read verse 5 it is saying; They shall be afraid and ashamed more than their expectation. Those who come out of Egypt, the nation. Looking more closely at this we know those at the end times are so embarrassed they pray for mountains to fall on them.
Isa.20:6] And the inhabitant of this isle shall say in that day, Behold, such is our expectation, whither we flee for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria: and how shall we escape?
They shall say at The Lord’s Day, who can save us from God’s wrath when he pours out the vials, no one. Let’s go to his throne.
Father, we thank you for your word and ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.
KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of The Bible