Sermon notes

INTRODUCTION

As soon as Israel left Egypt, many wanted to return. Centuries later, they still want to go back because they hope Egypt can protect them from Assyria. It won’t work. Repentance, including repentance for trusting Egypt, is the only hope (Isaiah 30:15).

THE TEXT

“Woe to the rebellious children, says the LORD, who take counsel, but not of Me, and who devise plans, but not of My Spirit, that they may add sin to sin; who walk to go down to Egypt, and have not asked My advice, to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh . . . .” (Isaiah 30:1-33).

REBELLIOUS SONS

Israel is Yahweh’s son (Exodus 4:23) called from not to Egypt. He loves them, even though they are gluttons and drunkards (cf. Deuteronomy 21:18-21). Without consulting Yahweh or following His Spirit, they meet with Egyptian officials at Zoan to work out an alliance (Isaiah 30:1-2, 5). This seems reasonable, but Yahweh sees it as idolatry, since Judah seeks refuge and safety in Pharaoh’s shadow rather than Yahweh’s (v. 2; Psalm 9:9; 14:6; 46:1; an especially Psalm 57:1; 91:1-16). Their trust in Egypt will end in shame, that is, defeat (Isaiah 30:3, 5).

WILDERNESS TREK

The “Negev” is the desert area south of Beersheba, between Judah and Egypt. To consult with Egypt, Judah has to pass through the dangerous wilderness again, but in the opposite direction , toward Egypt (Isaiah 30:6). Judah’s history runs in reverse. It’s useless; even with all its horses (v. 16), Egypt is Rahab the Impotent (v. 7). But the people of Judah prefer their political illusions to the word of the Lord through true prophets (vv. 9-11). Unless they repent and rest quiet in the Lord’s power (v. 15), they will collapse like an unsteady wall (v. 13), shatter like pottery (v. 14), and flee en masse before one enemy (v. 17; cf. Deuteronomy 28:25).

HE LONGS TO BE GRACIOUS

Yahweh has no abandoned His children. Rather, he waits longingly to show compassion. He is a just God, that is, faithful to Himself and His promises, and He will restore His people (v. 18). When He rescues them, weeping will end (v. 19), the blind and deaf will see and hear, Judah will listen to Yahweh her teacher (v. 20), and the people will toss away their idols (v. 22). That repentance will bring Edenic blessings on the land. Rain will water the earth abd bring a rich harvest (vv. 23-24). Abundant water will flow from the mountains (v. 25), as rivers flowed from Eden and water from Horeb. There will be no more night, because the moon will be as bright as the sun (v. 26). And the day will be flooded with light, since the sun will shine with the accumulated intensity of an entire week (v. 26). When Judah turns to Yahweh for rest (v. 15), He will bring in an eternal Sabbath. In that day, He will bind up the broken limbs of the corporate body of His people (v 26).

THE ADVENT OF THE NAME

Judah cannot be rescued by Egypt; rather, she will be rescued by the God who rescued her from Egypt in the first place. This new deliverance will be like the first: Yahweh will show Himself in smoke and fire, His breath flooding the Assyrians up to the neck (vv. 27-28; cf. Isaiah 8:7-8). It will be like the night of Passover (v. 29), and the Lord will terrify Assyria with a plague of hail (v. 30) and a rod like the rod of Moses (vv. 31-32). Topheth, a place near Jerusalem reserved for human sacrifices to Molech, is prepared as a funeral pyre for the Assyrian king (v. 33).