Isaiah 30
-Judah is warned of forming an
unhealthy alliance and dependence with Egypt in this section. The Judeans are
called rebellious by the LORD who desires to cover them with His almighty
power, but they lack faith and turn to natural means of protection in their
hearts. They execute a plan, but it is not of God; they make an alliance, but
it is not of the Holy Spirit. In this they add sin to sin because they go against
the LORD’s divine plan by proceeding down to Egypt, not consulting with God.
They take refuge in the perceived safety of Pharaoh and seek shelter in their
shadow. But, this will be to their shame and humiliation. Egypt will in the end
be of no profit or help to them, and they will become a reproach (a people of
scorn and contempt, blamed, accused, Isaiah 30:1-6). God says that Egypt’s help
is “vain and empty.” He asks the prophet to write it on a tablet and inscribe
it on a scroll that this word may serve in the time to come as a witness
forever. “For this is a rebellious people, false sons, who refuse to listen to
the instruction of the LORD (Isaiah 30:7-9).” They do not want the seers to see
visions or the prophets to prophesy what is right. They only want pleasant
words spoken to them with illusions (deception). They do not want to hear any
more from the Holy One of Israel, and they turn aside from the righteous path.
Therefore, the LORD speaks this, “Since you have rejected this word and have
put your trust in oppression and guile, and have relied on them, therefore this
iniquity will be to you like a breach about to fall, and bulge in a high wall,
whose collapse comes suddenly in an instant, whose collapse is like the
smashing of a potter’s jar, so ruthlessly shattered that a sherd will not be
found among its pieces to take fire from a hearth or to scoop water from a
cistern (Isaiah 30:10-14).” God continues, “In repentance and rest you
will be saved, in quietness and trust is your strength (Isaiah 30:15).” But, the prophet’s commentary is that
they were not willing. They wanted to take matters into their own hands and
flee on horses to the Negev of Egypt. God gives them their heart’s desire, but
warns that their pursuers will not be afraid of them and they will end up being
a symbol of weakness (Isaiah 30:15b-17). *Application* Make sure God is in the
middle of your plans if you want real success. It is interesting to me that
even today we see Israel looking to Egypt for peace treaties and proposals to
ease their conflicts. They still have some resistance it seems to consulting
God alone on security matters.
-What a comfort verse eighteen
is. The LORD longs (not just a casual desire, but a heart-felt yearning) to be
gracious to His people. In fact the Scripture says He waits on high to have
compassion on His people for He is a God of justice. How blessed are all those
who reciprocate their longing back to Him. The LORD instructs them to inhabit
Jerusalem on Mt. Zion, and they will weep no longer. He will surely be gracious
to them at the sound of their distressful and repentant cries. He will hear and
respond (Isaiah 30:19). Even though there has been privation (hardship,
adversity, poverty) and oppression at His allowance, He will not forever hide Himself.
Their eyes will see their Teacher and their ears will hear the wonderful words
behind them saying, “This is the way, walk in it, whenever you turn to the
right or to the left (Isaiah 30:20-21).” At that time they will defile their
graven images (idols) and scatter them as an impure thing and say to them, “Be
gone (Isaiah 30:22)!” Then God will bless them afresh and anew with rain for
agricultural growth and prosperity (Isaiah 30:23-25). In that day the LORD will
bind up the fracture of His people and heal the bruise He has inflicted in His
righteous indignation to draw them back to Him for the purpose of correction.
The light of the moon will be as the sun, and the light of the sun will be
seven times brighter, like the light of seven days (Isaiah 30:26).
*Application* God’s grace wants to extend to you wherever you are at. Even with
the rebellious and depraved, God is waiting for your decision to turn and
repent. He longs for you desperately!
-God’s vengeance on His enemies
resumes in the final verses of the chapter (Isaiah 30:27-33). His Name comes
from a remote place; He is burning with anger and indignation against the
usurpers of His authority. His tongue is like a consuming fire. His breath is
like an overflowing torrent to shake the nations of the world back and forth in
a sieve. The LORD will cause His voice of authority to be heard, and His arm
will descend to be seen in fierce anger of retribution. In the flame of a
consuming fire, in cloudburst, downpour, and hailstones Assyria will be terrified
when He strikes with the rod (Ezekiel 13:13; 38:22, 2 Peter 3:7, Revelation
16:21; 19:15). In battles, brandishing weapons, He will fight His enemies, and
the place of human sacrifices to the false demon god Molech, Topheth, who has
long been ready for judgment, will receive its just torrent of brimstone and
fire. *Application* It is a terrifying thing to fall into the Hands of the
Living God (Hebrews 10:31). Make sure you are on His side by His amazing grace.
Don’t fight God. It is Christ or judgment, you choose.
Verses to Memorize: Isaiah 30:15, 18, 21
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