Introduction: We are back in Isaiah again! Just over 2 weeks ago we read how God had driven out the oppressors and released Israel back to where it should be – a nation under God called to be His special people doing His will and walking in His way! How long will it last that Israel be true to Jehovah? You only have to start a new chapter and they are again on their own wilful way!
“Ah, stubborn children,” declares the LORD,
“who carry out a plan, but not mine,
and who make an alliance, but not of my Spirit,
that they may add sin to sin;
2 who set out to go down to Egypt,
without asking for my direction,
to take refuge in the protection of Pharaoh
and to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt! – Instead of being prepared to live under the wings of Almighty God, they seek to shelter under an agreement with Egypt! This was their plan, not God’s!
3 Therefore shall the protection of Pharaoh turn to your shame,
and the shelter in the shadow of Egypt to your humiliation.
4 For though his officials are at Zoan
and his envoys reach Hanes,
5 everyone comes to shame
through a people that cannot profit them,
that brings neither help nor profit,
but shame and disgrace.” – God speaking at the beginning was obviously talking to those who are His people. Thus the ‘he and him’ combined with the ‘they’ above indicate that God was speaking to them in the third person. The Jews had sent envoys to the seats of power in Egypt! God says that the Jews are wasting their time in seeking the Egyptians help!
6 An oracle on the beasts of the Negeb.
Through a land of trouble and anguish,
from where come the lioness and the lion,
the adder and the flying fiery serpent,
they carry their riches on the backs of donkeys,
and their treasures on the humps of camels,
to a people that cannot profit them. The Negeb was to the south of Judea and to the East of Egypt. It was a dangerous area through which the Judean envoys had to pass to get to the Egyptian leaders! With donkeys and camels mentioned it was obviously a trade route, but the animals described indicate the dangers involved in travelling that way!
7 Egypt’s help is worthless and empty;
therefore I have called her
“Rahab who sits still.” – Rahab here is a scathing name for Egypt. It possibly comes from the prostitute of Joshua’s time but is not the same person! It more likely refers to the mythical sea dragon from Egypt which caused chaos and problems when the Exodus was occurring. It was overcome by God’s power. It is a scathing reference to Egypt’s weakness and unworthiness with whom to seek assistance!
8 And now, go, write it before them on a tablet
and inscribe it in a book,
that it may be for the time to come
as a witness forever.
9 For they are a rebellious people,
lying children,
children unwilling to hear
the instruction of the LORD;
10 who say to the seers, “Do not see,”
and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us what is right;
speak to us smooth things,
prophesy illusions,
11 leave the way, turn aside from the path,
let us hear no more about the Holy One of Israel.” – God hits His own people’s character with several mighty blows! 1. There needs to be sealed evidence that God has spoken like this or they will deny it! 2. They are rebellious lying people, His own children. 3. The children don’t want to hear the truth! They want nice to hear, made up prophecies! ‘Away with talk of Jehovah God,’ they cry!
Amos 2: 3&5 – Thus says the LORD:
“For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,
because they have rejected the law of the LORD, and have not kept his statutes,
but their lies have led them astray, those after which their fathers walked.
So I will send a fire upon Judah, and it shall devour the strongholds of Jerusalem.”
Prayer: I thank You that Your word says so plainly that I shouldn’t regard lightly Your discipline. That I should learn from Your reproving of me. I want to learn what You are teaching me.
As I read it! 