What historical event does "a highway for the remnant" in Isaiah 11:16 reference? The Context of Isaiah 11:16 “There will be a highway for the remnant of His people that will remain from Assyria, as there was for Israel when they came up from the land of Egypt.” (Isaiah 11:16) The Key Phrase Explained • “Highway” pictures a clear, prepared path—free of obstacles, raised and secure. • “Remnant” identifies the faithful survivors God preserves through judgment. • “As there was for Israel when they came up from the land of Egypt” anchors the prophecy to a real, past event. Historical Event in View: The Exodus • God split the Red Sea, creating a dry passage: “Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the LORD drove the sea back... So the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground.” (Exodus 14:21-22) • Israel “came up” from Egypt on that divinely made roadway. • The verse in Isaiah intentionally parallels that moment, assuring future exiles that God will once again carve out a miraculous escape route. Why Mention Assyria? • In Isaiah’s day, Assyria was the immediate threat (2 Kings 17:6; 18:13). • God promises a second “highway”—not through water this time, but through hostile territory—bringing His scattered people home just as dramatically as the first time. Other Scriptures Reinforcing the Theme • Isaiah 35:8: “And there will be a highway called the Way of Holiness…” • Isaiah 43:16-17: “This is what the LORD says—He who made a way through the sea… who drew out the chariots and horses…” • Micah 7:15: “As in the days when you came out of Egypt, I will show them My wonders.” Take-Home Points • The “highway for the remnant” recalls the literal Red Sea crossing—the foundational act of national deliverance. • Just as God once parted waters, He promises to overcome every barrier that separates His people from their inheritance. • The historical Exodus becomes the pattern for every future rescue God performs, guaranteeing that His faithfulness in the past secures hope for the future. |
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