Isaiah 30:1 says, Woe to the rebellious children, saith the Lord, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin: Isaiah continued to pronounce God’s woe on His children, the people of Israel and Judah, who refused to take counsel from Him. They were called rebellious children, and if we who profess to be followers of Christ, who then refuse to obey the leadership of the Holy Spirit, then we become rebellious children of God. At this time, Israel had turned away from God almost totally, and Judah, the two tribes that had remained faithful to God were also turning away from Him. Like Israel and Judah, we are called to be God’s people today, but I believe that like them, too often people are followers of Christ in name only.
Verse two adds, That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt! Isaiah said the people were once again looking to Egypt and the pharaoh for deliverance from their problems but that they hadn’t asked God for His help. We should never look to anyone or anything else to bring us deliverance from our problems, but as Christians, we should look to God alone and ask Him for His help.
Verse three continues, Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion. Isaiah said that their trust in the pharaoh would lead to their shame and confusion. God had already shown His power over Egypt, but the people of Israel, who had been enslaved in Egypt, were looking to Egypt for help instead of looking to God. As followers of Christ, God has already shown us His power over everything in the world, even sin and death, but sometimes we look to the things of the world in times of need instead of looking to God.
Verse four states, For his princes were at Zoan, and his ambassadors came to Hanes. The princes or leaders of the people of Israel were at Zoan, where they had an audience with the pharaoh to seek his help. They were not looking to God for help. If we are having problems in the world today as Christians, the first thing we should do is to look to God for guidance and help. The government cannot offer a permanent solution to our problems, and we shouldn’t rely on them to do so.
Verse five adds, They were all ashamed of a people that could not profit them, nor be an help nor profit, but a shame, and also a reproach. Egypt could not supply the people promised to Isreal to help in fighting alongside them against the Assyrians. Matthew Henry says that they were either too few in numbers, unfit for service, or the Egyptians did not really support Israel and secretly sided with the Assyrians. I do know that we as followers of Christ, no matter how physically fit we may be, will never be accepted by the people of the world. Also, they will not be a profit to us spiritually, which is why we should always put doing God’s will first and always rely on Him for deliverance from the problems we encounter in life.
Verse six continues, The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of trouble and anguish, from whence come the young and old lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they will carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the bunches of camels, to a people that shall not profit them. The people of Egypt, who the people of Israel were so proud to be associated with for help would become a shame to them, because they would not be able to stand up to the Assyrians. They would be of no profit to the people of Israel. Anytime we look to the world for answers instead of looking to God, whatever help we get from them will ultimately be of no value spiritually.
Verse seven concludes, For the Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I cried concerning this, Their strength is to sit still. Isaiah said that the people of Egypt would be of no help to Israel according to God. He said that God said that the strength of the people of Israel was to sit still and wait on Him to protect them. This is what we should still do as Christians. God has already given us the everlasting victory, so we need to rest easy in His care, no matter what may happen in this life.
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