Isaiah 31 Devotional
by Pastor Mark Hudson
Isaiah 31 continues the theme of Is 30. If Judah seeks Egypt’s help it necessarily means rejecting God. In choosing Egypt she rejects the true for the false. Isaiah has been hammering this message home: Egypt cannot help you. If they go to Egypt for help this casts shade on the exodus. God brought us out of Egypt, Isaiah is saying, and you want to go back? You cannot do that without abandoning God, His Word, and His work. Egypt is not your future.
Could it be that Egypt’s horses are especially attractive to Judah? Horses were introduced into warfare in 1800 BC. “The horse’s speed, stamina, and maneuverability gave an army a mobility and a shock effect many times its numerical size.” Oswalt continues on page 570 that Egypt was especially noted for his chariotry. The wise men of Judah in v. 2 must have been counseling to go to Egypt for Isaiah sarcastically claims that God knows a thing or two in vs. 2. God never has to recant or reconsider words spoken. We should say, “I should not have said that.” Or “I regret saying that to you.” Not God. He never speaks off the cuff in a way to hurt or injure others. God will not stand idly by. He will confront and deal justly with all those who “work iniquity.”
How many different ways can Isaiah say to Judah, can’t you see Egypt for what it is? Why would you return to the nation that oppressed you? Why are you trying to unravel the exodus which is one of the grandest expressions of salvation ever known? Can’t you see Egypt as a nation under God’s wrath?
Many of the images that Isaiah uses are difficult to understand. Admittedly we surmise and speculate at times. I take v. 4 to explain that just as a lion is not scared by people yelling at him when he is eating his prey, God will not be deterred from His work of judgment. Yet, in v. 5 God also protects Jerusalem like a mother bird protects her chicks.
Once again, God calls His people to repentance in vs. 6-7. Isn’t it surprising to you that God does not seem to ever give up on His people who have “deeply revolted” against God? In v. 7, God’s people are not behaving like God’s people. They are actively engaged in idolatry. They didn’t just fall into idolatry by accident. Their “hands have sinfully made” these idols. This takes planning, designing, and manufacturing. Idols do not suddenly appear as Aaron implies in Ex 32: 24, “. . . I threw it (people’s gold) into the fire, and out came this calf.” Not exactly.
To the people of Judah, it seems that God is not in control. The Assyrians are in control and instead of looking better, things are looking worse. But Isaiah’s message is that the Assyrians are unwittingly, doing what God’s will. The Assyrians are not doing God’s will from faith, love, or from a desire to bring glory to God, but they are “the rod on my anger, the staff in their hands is my fury” says Isaiah in 10:5. They will “fall by a sword, not of man; and a sword, not of man, shall devour him. . .” in v. 8. God will take care of them in due time.
God promises His people that He is always in control. There is not one maverick molecule. Though it may not look like it, God will do what is right in His own way. God will work such a decisive victory that Assyrian officers will flee in panic.
You may see a spouse dying of cancer, a family member who passed away, a child choosing poorly again and again and question God’s sovereignty. You may feel so discouraged about unemployment or a bleak outlook on your future that you question God’s providence.
In those bleak, dark times believe and behave like a Christian. Grieve, cry, complain, or even argue but do it all to God and in His presence. He already knows how you feel. Be honest with God. The Psalmist or at least some of them, are big complainers. But they complain to God.
Off the subject but this provokes me so much. Gambling. I hear and see so many ads for gambling. As if we don’t need more vices to attract us. In the town where I work, we have 2, soon to be three, places that sell cannabis. We have one, soon to be three, facilities that grow it. And we always have all the tobacco and alcohol you could wish to buy at countless stores. But this out right promotion on gambling galls me. I hate every ad, despise what our state has done in promoting gambling to “help” schools. I hate gambling.
There are so many ways to ruin your life, your family, and others around you. Be on the alert. Watch over your own heart. You do not want to gamble. Wake up to the evils around you. Life is hard enough to navigate through. But add gambling or these many other vices and you are making life so much more difficult. Warn those around you. But do not be fooled by slick TV ads, relentless radio commercials. We do not put warnings on church attendance, but we do on gambling. There is a reason for that.
Father, I worship You for Your wisdom, love, purity, patience, and forgiveness. May Your holiness captivate me. You know my heart and the desires I have. I am not proud of my sinful heart. I trust in things other than You. Help me to see the folly of my unbelief and to trust You like I should. While I do not need You to explain why certain things happen, guide me to resting in You and not striving against You. You are good and all You do is good. In the name of the One who works all things for my good and Your glory. Amen.