Isaiah 11:16Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Just as it was for Israel upon their departure from Egypt, the previous events that befell them are recalled.

He declares that there will come a time when a pathway in Egypt shall emerge for my remaining people. Who are these survivors? They are those who held faith among the Israelites, concerning whom the prophet Isaiah prophesied: if the number of the children of Israel is as the grains of sand by the sea, the remainder will be delivered (Is. 10:22; cf. Rom. 9:27). It is fitting to view the blessed apostles and their companions as the beginning of this remnant, among whom stands the Divine Mark. He adds that on the day of their exodus from Egypt—referring to the lineage of Israel—having proclaimed the sacred and heavenly message to the Egyptians, they shall experience great joy, reminiscent of their rejoicing when they fled from Egyptian bondage.

At that time, he traversed the Red Sea assuredly, as the Mighty One 'prevented' him 'and exhausted' (Psalms 105:9). The Israelites, when they crossed the Jordan, did so without wetting their feet, as all the water retreated from beneath them.

The Lord will bring desolation to the waters of Egypt. The prophet references either the parting of the sea or the five cities whose people communicated in the Canaanite tongue, whom the Lord, along with His people, would restore from exile and unite with their assembly. He will place His hand upon the powerful realms of Assyria and Babylon. He will strike down the seven tribes, so they may cross the river with their sandals on; this signifies the determination of the Babylonian king, which prohibited the Jews from returning to their homeland, shall be rendered powerless. A remnant, gathered from all corners of the earth, will be enabled to cross the river boldly and unafraid, while just a short time prior, the entire nation had been unable to withstand the might of the Babylonians.

Just as the Red Sea was parted during the time of Moses, allowing those who escaped Egypt to pass through, the rivers of Egypt too will be made dry. This will take place so that the remnant of God’s people, who will be delivered from the Assyrians and other nations, can enter Egypt—not in flight, but triumphantly, stepping upon it with authority. The discerning and faithful reader of prophetic declarations should adhere to the understanding that what is recognized by the Jews, or more accurately by our Judaizers, as a physical fulfillment, we ought to see as a spiritual reality that has already been accomplished. Therefore, we must avoid being led astray into Judaism by their myths and, as the Apostle warns, foolish disputes (2 Tim. 2:23).

The passage describes the future liberation of the Hebrews from their primary places of exile, namely Egypt and Assyria, in a manner that is both miraculous and free from impediments. The Lord will provide an extraordinary escape from Egypt through the waters of the Red Sea, which lies along its western coast. He will reveal the sea's bottom, just as He did when the Israelites left Egypt under Moses' leadership. Similarly, the Lord will create a pathway from Assyria across the swift and abundant waters of the Euphrates River, often referred to simply as a river in the scriptures (Genesis 31:1, Isaiah 7:20, Jeremiah 2:18). He will part this river into seven shallow channels, allowing those who traverse it to do so without getting their feet wet.