Isaiah Chapter 30
This chapter and the next one center “on the folly of attempting to make an alliance with Egypt to ward off the Assyrian threat. At this time Egypt was waning as a world power and could be of no real assistance to Israel and Judah in their fight against the strong Assyrian Empire. But a strong faction in Judah, rather than turning to God for protection, wanted to seek aid from Egypt” (Bible Knowledge Comm. p. 1079). Repeatedly throughout the Old Testament Israel was tempted to trust in material things and alliances rather in their relationship with the Almighty. Are we tempted to do the same thing today? What is our true place of safety and refuge, things, human relationships, money, or God? (Matthew 6:19-24) 30:1 “Woe to the rebellious children”: “Like children, they did not have the proper perspective to know what was best for them. Floundering in their desire to save themselves and their nation, they were forming plans but not God’s plans” (p. 1080). The fact that they are called rebellious or obstinate reveals that they knew better and that they knew what God’s plans were but rejected them. “Who execute a plan, but not Mine”: Whose plans are we executing today? God’s plan for the church, salvation, and our lives, our some human plan? “And make an alliance, but not of My Spirit”: Notice the mention of the Holy Spirit here. Is our alliance with what the Holy Spirit has revealed in Scripture, or have we aligned ourselves with something else? “In order to add sin to sin”: Their plans were sinful because they were contrary to God’s will (1 John 3:4). In the days of Ahaz the nation had sought to align itself with Assyria against Syria and Israel (Isaiah 7), now the nation is seeking to align itself with Egypt against Assyria. This is a new situation, but a repeat of the same sinful lack of trust in God.
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30:2 “Without consulting Me”: The Scriptures told them to trust in God, in addition, they had a prophet in their midst (Isaiah) who they could consult as well! How often do we consult the Lord in reference to the plans that we are making? 30:2-5 The Jews had even sent a delegation to two Egyptian cities, Zoan and Hanes. Both of these towns were in lower Egypt, “though Hanes, in the region of modern Fayyum, was a good deal farther south than Zoan” (Gaebelein p. 194). Yet Egypt would turn out to be a big disappointment to the Jews (30:5). In contrast, those who but their trust in God will not be ashamed or humiliated for such a decision (1 Peter 2:5ff). In fact, God had already told the people through Isaiah that Egypt would fall (chapters 1820). Like many people in the world, it appeared that Pharaoh had promised much, but could deliver little. 30:2 “And seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt!”: Compare with Psalm 91:1. 30:6-8 As the messengers traveled south from Judah they would enter the Negev or Southland, a desolate and dangerous area filled with wild animals and serpents (30:6). This delegation is also bringing expensive gifts. “Judah’s people were so desperate for help that they were willing to risk hardship and great expense” (Bible Knowledge Comm. p. 1080), but they were not willing to repent! I am amazed at the expense and efforts that people will incur and the lengths to which they will go, but will refuse God’s simple solution to their problems. Hailey notes that traveling through the Negev may indicate that the Assyrians had cut off the coastal route by this time. 30:7 “Therefore, I have called her Rahab who has been exterminated”: The word “Rahab” means “storm, arrogance”, as Hailey says it is a fitting symbol for Egypt, “the boaster that sitteth still”. Leupold translates this expression, “A Big-mouth that is a Do-nothing”. “Like the Spinx, Egypt looked strong but was helpless to act. She was a nation that could not live up to her past glory and power; she boasted in that past glory but did nothing” (Hailey p. 252). 30:8 “Now go, write it on a tablet before them…that it may serve in the time to come as a witness forever”: “Obstinate Israel was not inclined to listen to the prophet, hence, his message would be written and his prophecies recorded as documentation for generations yet to come” (Jackson p. 61).
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30:9 “For this is a rebellious people, false sons, sons who refuse to listen to the instruction of the Lord”: No one can rightly to called a “child of God” who does not listen to and obey Scripture. 30:10 “Who say to the seers, ‘You must not prophesy to us what is right, speak to us pleasant words’”: Nothing is new, people wanted to have their ears tickled during the lifetime of Isaiah, as well as during life of Amos (Amos 7:12-13) and the apostle Paul (2 Timothy 4:3-4). The Israelites would only listen to Isaiah if Isaiah trimmed the message to suit them. “But the preacher was to bring a message to his listeners, not to find it among them” (Gaebelein p. 196). 30:10 “Prophesy illusions”: “That is, give us false hope, make us believe that all is well even when it is not” (Hailey p. 253). In our own times, the religious world is filled with people who want a false hope, and teachers that are eager to accommodate them. 30:11 “Get out of the way, turn aside from the path, let us hear no more about the Holy One of Israel”: The people were saying this to Isaiah! The people are determined to do what they want to do and they resent Isaiah standing in their path and rebuking them. In addition, they are fed up with Isaiah’s insistence about talking about the holiness of God. Isaiah will use the title Holy One of Israel about thirty times in this book. “Each time the prophet mentions that name, it would cut deeply into their sinful and rebellious souls” (Hailey p. 253). “This title implying as it did the great demands that relationship to such a God entailed (see Amos 3:2), filled their hearts with loathing. Their ears could no longer tolerate its sound” (Gaebelein p. 196). 30:12 “Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel”: Isaiah does not back down for one moment. The Holy One of Israel that the people did not want to hear about was not going to accommodate them. He now speaks! “Nothing would be trimmed to suit their taste” (Gaebelein p. 196). “The One whom the nation would cause to cease is the One who will cause the nation to cease” (Young). “Put your trust in oppression and guile, and have relied on them”: Some see the reference to “oppression” here as either oppressive methods used to finance the bribe being sent to Egypt, or
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oppression that was used in the attempt to silence God’s prophets like Isaiah. In addition, the people were also willing to rely upon deception rather than a “Thus saith the Lord”. Today many people are relying upon deception as they head toward an accounting with the Lord. 30:13 “Therefore this iniquity will be to you like a breach about to fall, a bulge in a high wall, whose collapse comes suddenly in an instant” “Sin contains the seeds of its own punishment. A small fault may spread, like leaven, and the onlooker may become so accustomed to the bulging wall that he does not detect the worsening of the problem till the collapse comes, and it is too late. Spiritual and moral deterioration are often like this” (Gaebelein p. 196). 30:14 The coming judgment would equally be complete, like a piece of pottery that is completely disintegrated, so that nothing of value, “even for the most elementary and humble uses is found to remain” (p. 196). This was fulfilled in 586 B.C. when the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem. 30:15 “Has said”: God will not change His conditions for deliverance, even though the people want other choices or a lighter message, the fact remains that repentance is the only avenue. But the nation is unwilling to listen. Notice unwilling and not unable. “Those who have learned from God will turn to Him in repentant faith, but continued rebellion against Him produces panic when the foe appears in all his might” (Gaebelein p. 196). 30:16 Like many nations before and since then, Judah wanted to trust in military might, such as the horses that they had obtained from Egypt. 30:17 In the Law God had promised overwhelming victory to His people if they obeyed Him but also overwhelming defeat if they rebelled (Leviticus 26:7-8; Deuteronomy 32:30). “Until you are left as a flag on a mountain top and as a signal on a hill”: “The whole army has gone into battle and met its death; the flag-bearer, kept back at the hilltop base in case he was needed for rallying purposes, discovers that he alone is left and so is without function” (Gaebelein p. 197).
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30:18 Yet, in spite of the sins and arrogance of the nation, God still longs for the sinner to repent and thus receive His mercy (2 Peter 3:9). God must use harsh language but this does not mean that He does not want men saved. God’s desire for the sinner to repent and His wrath against the sinner are both equally intense! “How blessed are all those who long for Him”: This appears to be the same thing as “waiting” for Him (Isaiah 40:31). “Instead of taking matters into their own hand, they allow Jehovah to act on the ground of His infinite righteousness and justice” (Hailey pp. 256-257). In addition, people who wait for God, that is, trust Him, are the same people who desire and long for a relationship with Him. These are people who love God with their whole heart. Do we long for God? Or, do we want to put off meeting God as long as possible? Blessings for the faithful 30:19 “To receive an answer we must cry unto the Lord earnestly, in faith and confidence; when we do, God answers” (Hailey p. 257). God still hears the cry of the repentant to this day (2 Peter 3:9). 30:20 Before blessings come there must be some affliction. The phrase bread of privation and water of oppression appears to apply to the nourishment that is provided during times of extreme need and scarcity. God will allow the nation to go into captivity, but He will provide for the faithful, He will preserve the faithful remnant (Psalm 66:12). 30:21 This verse, along with the last line of verse 20, seems to be talking about a new attitude among God’s people concerning listening to God and those who teach His word. The Israelites will readily listen to their spiritual guides, such as the prophets and faithful priests who had been scare during times of persecution. There is a definite contrast between this verse and 30:10-11. “The word of God possesses ethical content, keeping God’s people to the right path. It also possesses religious content, for their response to it will lead them to purge their land of idolatry (30:22)” (Gaebelein p. 198).30:22 “Overlaid with silver”: “The reference to the silver or golden covering of the wooden idols may suggest that the people have come to see that a precious exterior masks a plain interior. The idols, so splendid in appearance, were really worthless at anything but a superficial level” (Gaebelein p. 198). 30:22 “Be gone!” Here is what true repentance
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looks like, when a person repents, the former sin is repudiated and cast out as worthless. “After the destruction of Jerusalem and the Babylonian captivity the people were apparently cured of idolatry, for no more do we hear of their making or serving images” (Hailey p. 258). Compare with Acts 19:18-19. 30:23-25 Here is the language of future prosperity set in an agricultural theme, but in the midst of this section is a reference to the “day of slaughter”. It reminds us that at the same time blessings come upon the righteous, punishment often comes upon the wicked. “The Bible is a realistic book and shows that God’s future plan includes judgment for the rebel as well as blessings for the penitent” (Gaebelein p. 198). Some feel this refers to the New Covenant, when the faithful are blessed, but the rebellious, especially rebellious Jews, will perish in Jerusalem. 30:26 This will also be a period of glorious light, in fact the light of seven days will be concentrated into one day. Obviously, this is not literal, for such an intensity of sunlight would be harmful to the entire creation. Rather, Isaiah must be speaking of the abundance of spiritual blessings, and the abundance of truth revealed by Jesus and the apostles that would come in the New Testament period (Ephesians 1:3; John 16:13). God had promised that after the captivity He would bless them, in fact, bless them more abundantly than He had blessed their ancestors (Deuteronomy 30:5; Ezekiel 36:11; Malachi 3:10). Shifting the Nations From verse 31 it is clear that this section is dealing with a judgment that is coming upon Assyria. 30:27 “The name of the Lord comes from a remote place”: “The name of the Lord is, of course, a revelation of Himself (Exodus 3:13-15; 6:2-3)” (Gaebelein p. 199). The expression from a remote place may suggest that God comes from a place inaccessible to man. There are religious people today who are embarrassed when the Bible speaks of God manifesting His anger, yet there is no such embarrassment in Isaiah! What this reveals is that God is a living God who is intensely concerned about how man lives
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and the choices he makes. In addition, God is also a moral God who grants mercy to the humble but brings wrath and justice upon the wicked. God is not neutral when it comes to right and wrong! Please note that God is not merely a judge who judges but who is disinterested in the law being violated, rather God is a passionate judge, who burns in anger (30:27) against those who rebel against the truth. 30:28 “To shake the nations back and forth in a sieve”: Like a farmer shaking grain to clear it of pebbles. “The sieve of judgment reveals the spiritual inadequacy of the unrighteous, much as the wind of the threshing floor similarly distinguishes between the light and heavy (29:5). The figure of the horse with a bit suggests that God will take the arrogant sinner down the road that leads to his destruction” (Gaebelein p. 199). 30:29 This may appear callous, but remember that God’s judgments are often the means of salvation for the righteous. Because Assyria would be judged, Judah would be saved! 30:30-31 In spite of human attempts to override God’s authority, God will make His authority known. He had used Assyria as a rod to punish Israel and Judah and now that rod will be smitten. 30:32 “God’s people are here portrayed rejoicing at His judgment on sin because they must take His point of view on everything, and because this judgment is at the same time their salvation” (Gaebelein p. 199). With every stroke that falls upon Assyria, there is rejoicing among the faithful. 30:33 “For Topheth”: The word is pronounced (TOE fet). Topheth was the Valley of Hinnon, to the south of Jerusalem (Jeremiah 7:31-32). “There apostate Jews offered their children by fire to the pagan deity, Moloch” (Gaebelein p. 200). After being deified by good king Josiah, this valley became a place for the burning of refuse, that is, a perpetual garbage dump that was smoldering. Jesus used this Valley as a mental picture of hell, a place of defilement and unquenchable fire, thus the New Testament word Gehenna. “Has long been ready”: “Such a place has long been provided for both kings and nations like Assyria” (Hailey p. 262). “Deep and large”: There is plenty of room here for a nation as big as Assyria.
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