Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. This sentiment of David from the 20th Psalm seems to have been lost over the years. Read on:
The very country that enslaved Israel is now the “go to” country to obtain help from what Israel perceives to be a greater enemy. The problem is, God doesn’t perceive any of them to have any power at all. As I have said often before, God is angry with His people for not coming to Him for help, and going to Egypt instead. Of all countries…Egypt? The country that God told the people not to buy horses from, and not intermarry with, and to “never go back there again”? But then, that’s what happens when you lose your connection to Jesus…you begin to make bad decisions. They don’t seem like bad decisions, they seem logical and sensible…but that’s part of the delusion of those who take their eyes off of Jesus. The devil immediately fits us with glasses that distort our vision.
Notice that Jerusalem will be spared from the Assyrians. (31:4-9) This protection from God is going to come during the siege of Judah while Hezekiah is king. It hasn’t happened yet, but God is telling Isaiah exactly what will occur…which has to make us wonder how God could know things that haven’t happened yet. The only way He could is if they have already happened…just not to us. God has already seen what we are going to do, and sometimes He reports it back to us. That’s incredible.
The righteous King mentioned in Chapter 32 has to be a reference to Jesus. I smile as I read 32:5, clearly that day hasn’t come yet, as there are many disreputable characters that masquerade as heroes currently. The point being made here is the the Holy Spirit will fall from heaven on all people, and they will be loving, peaceable, generous and intelligent. The earth will one day become a place of wisdom and insight, and war and deception will be left behind forever.
In 32:9 and following God addresses the women “of ease” directly. I find myself wondering exactly why God singles them out and doesn’t mention the men. The men were mentioned as drunkards in yesterday’s reading…maybe that’s why. It doesn’t appear that God has a problem with their wealth, only with their smugness and self confidence. It would appear that these ladies have taken confidence in their great wealth and political prowess to protect them from their enemies. That’s as futile as trusting in Egypt. The message I am getting seems clear:
There is only salvation found in one person, Jesus Christ. Rescue will not come from any other person, nation or effort. Only Jesus can save.
Chapter 33 records the resounding collapse of Assyria. The very thought of it was incomprehensible at the time…they were THE world power. It would be the equivalent of the United States, or Russia or China completely collapsing. But that’s exactly what happened, and it began right outside the walls of Jerusalem, where the people locked up inside that city cried out to God and the army outside withered away overnight. From that point on Assyria began to disintegrate.
It took some time, and while reading this you might get the impression that it would all happen in one week. I am reminded today that when God says something is going to happen, it will. But God’s view of time is different from my own…I might think it’s taking a long time when actually it’s happening rather quickly from God’s perspective.
Chapter 34 is a message to all of us. To know that God is furious with the earth should be no surprise. Look around at the horrible things that contradict God’s will that are done every day. Some of them are even done using God’s name. Even as we go to church and try to be righteous we cannot escape the fact that all around us people are sinking further into decay. Let’s make it our goal to rescue as many as we can, because that’s exactly what Christ did by showing up on earth in the first place. Earth was always going to be destroyed, ever since Adam sinned.
But Jesus came to rescue as many as would allow Him to help.
I don’t know what your “Egypt” is, or what you may be tempted to put your trust in…but I know that true rescue from the pit we find ourselves in is only found in one person….Jesus. Good deeds won’t save you. Godly parents or grandparents won’t save you. You must enter into the saving relationship yourself… make it personal. Then, no matter the size of the army that puts your life under siege, you can be confident in this: In the final battle, you win!
Faithfully,
PR