Pride and God's Purpose

 Read Isaiah 23.

Tyre and Sidon were two of the most important trading centers in the Mediterranean at the time.  Buying and selling with nations from Egypt to Spain, these merchants of Phoenicia became extremely wealthy.  The people deemed themselves self-sufficient and sensed no need of God.  Like many port cities, they had also become places known for carousing and open sin.  But their "pompous pride" and self-glorification were to come to an end.

To be sure, the Assyrians were marching in their direction.  The trade fell to the control of the Assyrian Empire for the 70 years, exactly as prophesied here, from 700 B.C. to 630 B.C.  However, behind the visible threat was the power of the invisible God.  There is a question in verse 8 with the answer in verse 9.  "Who has purposed this" destruction of these great cities?  "The LORD of hosts has purposed it."

A heart full of pride, the sense of self-sufficiency, and the actions of living life the way one wants are the very reasons Jesus was nailed to the cross.  Those form one of the key Biblical definitions of sin.

Isaiah later wrote, "Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.  But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned--every one--to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all." (Isaiah 53:4-6)

Though we are not told how, at the end of the chapter there will be a brief time of restoration of commerce.  But this time the prosperity will be dedicated, or holy, to the LORD.  And, isn't that what God is after all along?  His desire is for everything and everyone in His creation to bring Him glory.

 

Facing an impossible Situation

 Read Isaiah 22.

God used the Assyrians to put pressure on Judah to repent.  But instead, they fortified Jerusalem's defenses.  They armed themselves with weapons (v.8).  Those who tried to flee were captured.  Judah was helpless to save themselves.  The LORD called to them to repent and turn to Him.  Instead of mourning and repenting, they feasted.

Shebna evidently was one who could have been in a position to negotiate with the Assyrians.  However, it seems he wanted to use this opportunity to make a lasting name for himself.  Therefore, God rejected him as an unfaithful "steward" and replaced him with Eliakim.  Eliakim served as a father figure to Judah, with the full royal authority that God place upon him.  In verse 14, he had God-given power to make things happen on behalf of his people.  But as secure as Eliakim's leadership was even it would one day come to an end.

At the heart of the problem was their unbelief that God could deliver them and that He wanted to deliver them.  That sin of unbelief "will not be atoned for..." (v.14). 

The writer of Hebrews stated, "Without faith it is impossible to please him." (Hebrews 11:6)  When facing impossible situations, we first and foremost gladly cast our full dependence upon the God of the impossible.  He alone can forgive sin.  He alone can deliver us. 

"Faith, mighty faith, the promise sees and looks to God alone;

Laughs at impossibilities, and cries it shall be done." -Charles Wesley

Protection from pending Disaster

 Read Isaiah 21.

Judah looked to any nation that could possibly stay the invasion of Assyria.  In His faithfulness, God told Isaiah what was about to happen and then the prophet delivered the word of God.

Looking to the east, there were the desert peoples of Dumah (Elam), Media, and the city of Babylon.  Surely, one of these could help.

A rebellion against Assyria did take place from the area of the desert sea, now known as the Persian Gulf.  But while Isaiah emotionally and physically felt the awfulness of the coming battle, some sat down to feast as if nothing was going to happen.  Then, the prophecy stated the news would come that Babylon had been "shattered to the ground."  Isaiah described Judah's dashed hopes as grain that had been threshed.

The message from the LORD even included the time.  The rout of the region would happen within one year.

Though a similar wording is used concerning Babylon in Revelation 14 and 18, these are two distinct events.  Isaiah wrote concerning the Assyrians' defeat of Babylon.  Later, in Daniel's time, the demise of the Babylonian Empire took place at the hands of the Medes and Persians.  Then, prior to the return of Christ the new Babylon will be destroyed.

God will be faithful to Judah and protect them from the cruelty of the Assyrians.  The lesson here is that they needed to stop looking to other sources of help and turn to the only One who can truly protect them.  That is a good word for all of us today.

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say to the LORD, 'My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.'" (Psalm 91:1-2)

 

The awesome consequences of Neglect

 Read Isaiah 20.

In a graphic display, God instructed the prophet to deliver His message.  Assyria would cruelly conquer and humiliate the nations.  With hopes dashed for any regional alliance, Judah would have to stop and take stock about their future.  There is an evaluative statement and then a question that applies to everyone who ever lived.

1. The statement. (v.6a)
"This is what happens to those who ignore the LORD and put their hope in something else." 
In predicting the demise of Cush and Egypt, God declared that they will evaluate what happened to them and why.  There proved to be no one to come alongside them to help.  They put their trust in the wrong place and in the wrong people.  They were sincere but sincerely wrong. 

God provided all they needed for forgiveness, restoration and protection.  But His plans were not accepted.  They thought they knew better than God.  Therefore, they suffered the consequences.

2. The question. (v.6b)
"How shall we escape?"
Some will trust that there is no such eternal accountability.  They will not escape eternal punishment.
Some will trust in other beliefs.  They will not escape eternal punishment.
Some will trust in their own good works.  They will not escape eternal punishment.

There are not two answers to that question.  There is only one.  It is not a sectarian belief, but the gracious offer of the living God.  Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) 

In a different context, the writer of Hebrews included the same question: "For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?" (Hebrews 2:2-3)

 

 

God's peace plan for Egypt

 Read Isaiah 19.

The LORD continued to reveal His prophetic messages for the nations through Isaiah.  With Assyria threatening the entire region, it would have been natural to look to neighboring countries for defensive alliances.  If all the north will be overrun by the Assyrians, what about Egypt in the south?  They, too, will be conquered by the same cruel invaders.

God will use this enemy attack as His instrument.  In addition, He will withhold blessings so as to bring about Egypt’s total economic collapse.  Why?  Because the Egyptians had put their trust in false gods.  At its root, the battle is always spiritual.  Verse 3 gives some detail.  The nation prayed to idols they had made with their own hands out of resources God created and provided.  They turned to shysters who claimed to be able to interpret the stars or other omens.  Then, there were satanically aligned wizards and conjurers who offered demonic counsel.  But when the LORD intervened, they all proved be of no use whatsoever.  This was accomplished by Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, in 671 B.C.

The second half of the chapter looks beyond the immediate threat to a distant time.  Five times the phrase "in that day" appears, giving a glimpse of Egypt's spiritual future.  One day…

1. Egypt will fear Judah. (vv.16-17)
When the Messiah rules the world from David's throne in Jerusalem, all the nations, including Egypt, will demonstrate respect and respond accordingly.

2. Egypt will worship the LORD. (v.18)
The prediction is that there will be five key cities.  The nation will abandon all false gods and be fully committed followers of Jesus, the Messiah.

3. Egypt will have its own altar. (vv.19-22)
With its own altar to worship the LORD and a public monument of testimony, the nation will openly declare to the world its embrace of the Messiah.

4. Egypt will be at peace. (v.23)
Given the current internal strife of that nation, it is hard to imagine them being at peace among themselves, let alone with their historic enemies.  But when the Prince of Peace comes, these three-Assyria, Israel, and Egypt-will freely travel back and forth in peace.

5. Egypt will be blessed and be a blessing. (v.24)
One cannot read these words in verse 24 without remembering God's promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:3- “I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."

Why is God waiting?

 Read Isaiah 18.

When God acts on behalf of a nation or in judgment, it affects all the surrounding nations as well.  The same is true with individuals.  With infinite wisdom, He works in everyone's lives simultaneously, in His time, to fulfill His plans.

Chapter 18 is a "woe" aimed at Ethiopia.  Apparently, there was a quick effort to align themselves with Israel to fight against the Assyrians.  Isaiah wrote a terse response in verse 2: "Go home."  All the alliances in the world would not thwart the invasion.  God wanted to use Assyria as a penalty against the sin of Israel.  Later, He would deal with the Assyrians and their sin.

In the meantime, the LORD told Isaiah in verse 4, "I will quietly look from my dwelling..."  Quietly?  Waiting? 

Isaiah knew what was going to happen, all the pieces seemed to be in place, but the LORD had not implemented the plan yet.  Indeed, the prophecy here looks even beyond Isaiah's day to the events that are still future to us.  In verses 7 and 8, all the nations including Ethiopia will make their way to Jerusalem to bring gifts the LORD.  The government will be upon His shoulders and the Prince of Peace will reign. 

What is God waiting on?  All of us have asked that question at one time or another.  If He is control and knows what He is going to do, why does He not act now?
1. He waits to judge sin.
In Genesis 15:12-16, the LORD told Abraham that his descendants would be slaves in Egypt for 400 years.  The astounding fact is that he told him 500 years in advance!  What was God waiting on?  The sin of the Amorites.  To us, it seems that there is no connection.  But if God was going to move millions of Jews into Canaan, He needed to first deal with the nation living in the north.  Like falling dominoes, one movement in the plan affects everyone else.

2. He waits for individuals to repent.
2 Peter 3:9-10, "The Lord is  not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance."  In His grace, He waits to allow every opportunity for people to change their minds about Him and His offer of forgiveness.  When He does bring judgment, there will be no excuse.

3. He waits to reveal things yet unseen by us.
Whether it is the eternal change of a life, the movement upon a person's heart to respond in a certain way, or the supply of a need, I believe God delights in surprising us with His goodness.  Even when we are certain what God wants done, it is a walk of faith to wait upon how and when He will act.  But each time, the wait will be worth it and our faith stronger.

 

When blessed people Forget

 Read Isaiah 17.

The northern kingdom of Israel had turned to the Arameans, their neighbor, in an alliance to war against the invading Assyrians.  Damascus was the capital city of Aram, a region in central Syria.  But just as the prophecy against Israel predicted their destruction and scattering, so it was to be with Arameans.

Three times the phrase "in that day" appears in this chapter.  This is most often a trigger wording pointing to the future time of God's wrath and His ushering in unprecedented time of blessing and peace.  But the descriptions here are events that would have taken place in Isaiah's day. 

God's dealings with people, as His character is, have not changed.  These are good warnings and reminders to all of us.

1. Humility in that day. (vv.4-6)
Israel will be brought low.  The first description is one of weight loss.  The war will bring a food shortage and starvation.  The second pictures Israel as crops after the harvest with little left.   No longer will they enjoy abundance.  What they had was from the hand of God, but they gave Him no honor or credit.  When one does not humble themselves before the LORD, God will eventually intervene.

2. Repentance in that day. (vv.7-8)
Someone said that when things go well, people play.  And, when things go bad, people pray.  When Israel would experience the terror of the Assyrians, they would turn to God.  In the crisis they would realize their man-made religion offered no help.  They would indeed return to their "Maker".  When a person gets a fresh glimpse of the Holy One, feelings of personal sin jump to the surface.  He alone could forgive them, deliver them, and give them hope for the future.

3. Judgment in that day. (vv.9-11)
Once the ruthless Assyrians were through, the entire region would be devastated, destroyed, and deserted.  Why?  Israel had become a godless nation.  They forgot the God of their fathers who promised the land to them and delivered them from slavery in Egypt.  They chose not to remember the miracles of God's protection of them and His countless provisions to them.

For us, let today be a day of remembering the goodness of the LORD and humbly living for Him.