Isaiah 30:1-18
“What sorrow awaits my rebellious children”, says the LORD.
Truer words have probably never been spoken when you think about it. In the context of this prophecy recorded by the prophet Isaiah, the people of Judah have just made a terrible decision, a decision to trust an enemy over the loving provision of God.
For a time, Judah and Israel have been under constant siege from the brutal Assyrian army. The leaders in Judah are terrified over what will become of them if the nation should fall to the Assyrians. From that place of terror, there are two very clear choices that the leaders can make.
They can trust in God, who has protected them and provided for them since, well, forever, or…they could take every cent of material wealth the country has and send it down to Egypt where the Pharaoh has promised them protection.
Judah seems to forget that Egypt has a history of being pretty oppressive towards them as well…450 years’ worth of slavery is one clear indication of that. Well, the leaders in Judah decide to look past that little indiscretion and they send all their valuables to Pharaoh, confident that he will watch out for them.
Which…he does not.
So, now Judah is not only under siege, but they’re broke too. Look at what the LORD has to say to His people in Isaiah 30:2-3.
“For without consulting Me, you have gone down to. Egypt for help. You have put your trust in Pharaoh’s protection. You have tried to hide in his shade. But by trusting Pharaoh, you will be humiliated and by depending on him, you will be disgraced.”
Ouch. That smarts, right? But think about it. How many times have we in our “terror” turned away from the faithfulness of Jesus and instead “gone down to Egypt” to grab a drink, a drug, or an illicit sexual encounter? We look to “hide in the shade” provided by these other things and in no time at all find out that we’ve been duped. We’ve invested everything we have in something that offers no benefit and instead leaves us humiliated and disgraced.
The Good News is that despite their – and our – rebellion against God, He goes on to remind His people that if they just turn back to Him, He will bless them with rest and salvation. Not a rebuke, not a lecture or stern talking to. Rest. Salvation.
It’s a beautiful reminder that trusting in the Pharaohs of the world will never offer us the peace, joy, and comfort that comes to us only through Jesus our Savior.