WOE TO THOSE WHO TRUST IN EGYPT ISAIAH 31:1-9

1 WOE TO THOSE WHO TRUST IN EGYPT ISAIAH 31:1-9

2 Text: Isaiah 31:1-9, WOE TO THOSE THO TRUST IN EGYPT Isaiah 31:1-9 1. Those who go down to Egypt for help are as good as dead, those who rely on war horses, and trust in Egypt s many chariots and in their many, many horsemen. But they do not rely on the Holy One of Israel and do not seek help from the Lord. 2. Yet he too is wise and he will bring disaster; he does not retract his decree. He will attack the wicked nation, and the nation that helps those who commit sin. 3. The Egyptians are mere humans, not God; their horses are made of flesh, not spirit. The Lord will strike with his hand; the one who helps will stumble and the one being helped will fall. Together they will perish. 4. Indeed, this is what the Lord says to me: The Lord will be like a growling lion, like a young lion growling over its prey. Though a whole group of shepherds gathers against it, it is not afraid of their shouts or intimidated by their yelling. In this same way the Lord who commands armies will descend to do battle on Mount Zion and on its hill. 5. Just as birds hover over a nest, so the Lord who commands armies will protect Jerusalem. He will protect and deliver it; as he passes over he will rescue it.

3 6. You Israelites! Return to the one against whom you have so blatantly rebelled! 7. For at that time everyone will get rid of the silver and gold idols your hands sinfully made. 8. Assyria will fall by a sword, but not one human-made; a sword not made by humankind will destroy them. They will run away from this sword and their young men will be forced to do hard labor. 9. They will surrender their stronghold because of fear; their officers will be afraid of the Lord s battle flag. This is what the Lord says the one whose fire is in Zion, whose firepot is in Jerusalem. (NET) Introduction: Sadly, instead of trusting God, the Jews turned to Egypt for help. Their faith should have been strong in God, like that of David. He wrote, Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright. Save, LORD: let the king hear us when we call. (Psalm 20:6-9) Instead of being able to commend them for a faith like David, Isaiah condemned them for their lack of faith in God. Instead of trusting in God, they trusted in Egypt for help. (Isaiah 31:1-9) Isaiah pictured God s wrath upon the wicked Egyptians and upon those who would seek help from Egypt s support. Israel should have looked to God for love, mercy and protection.

4 Commentary: Isaiah 31:1-3, Those who go down to Egypt for help are as good as dead, those who rely on war horses, and trust in Egypt s many chariots and in their many, many horsemen. But they do not rely on the Holy One of Israel and do not seek help from the Lord. Yet he too is wise and he will bring disaster; he does not retract his decree. He will attack the wicked nation, and the nation that helps those who commit sin. The Egyptians are mere humans, not God; their horses are made of flesh, not spirit. The Lord will strike with his hand; the one who helps will stumble and the one being helped will fall. Together they will perish. (NET) Neglecting God s power and protection Isaiah 31:1-3: It is true that Egypt had a large number of soldiers and many horses, but numbers are not everything. Israel thought they would be better off to depend upon Egypt for help, instead of turning to God. Egypt had a large and powerful cavalry. They had many chariots. Sadly, Israel learned the hard way that they should not have trusted in the power of Egypt for deliverance, rather they should have trusted in the power of God. The children of Israel were in trouble. They were relying upon Egypt instead of trusting in God. God gave His word that He would punish both those who seek such aid and those who give this aid. You can depend on God s word. The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever. (Psalm 12:6-7) The children of Israel were evil people because they did not trust in God. The children of Israel were in trouble because they thought they were wise enough, on their own, to figure out a means of physical deliverance. Instead of depending on God and trusting Him, they thought they

5 would be better off with an army of powerful soldiers and chariots. They were so very wrong! God s promises are certain. He promised that He would bring doom upon those who are evil. He also promised that He would destroy those who tried to help the evil Jews. God wanted the Jews to understand that the Egyptians were humans. They are not God! Their horses were flesh, they would not live forever. But God is Almighty. He would show His power. He would destroy the Egyptians. He would destroy the Jews who were depending upon them. Together both the Egyptians and the Jews would face the wrath of God. God described the Jews as evil people, because they refused to obey the word of the Lord. Our refusal to obey God puts us into that same category. If we refuse to obey, we too, will be evil people. Isaiah 31:4-5, Indeed, this is what the Lord says to me: The Lord will be like a growling lion, like a young lion growling over its prey. Though a whole group of shepherds gathers against it, it is not afraid of their shouts or intimidated by their yelling. In this same way the Lord who commands armies will descend to do battle on Mount Zion and on its hill. Just as birds hover over a nest, so the Lord who commands armies will protect Jerusalem. He will protect and deliver it; as he passes over he will rescue it. (NET) Two pictures of deliverance and protection Isaiah 31:4-5: After clearly stating that Egypt would not be able to provide help for the children of Israel, God promised His help. The Lord, the Almighty- Mighty God, promised that He would come down and fight on Mount Zion. God used two beautiful figures to illustrate the power of His help. He said He would be like a fearless lion. This fearless lion had killed an animal and he would not be frightened away by the shouts of the shepherds. Just as those shepherds were trying to protect their sheep from the lion but could not, neither could Egypt provide protection for

6 the Jews. Their only hope and protection would come from God. Our prayer should be like that of Psalm 16:1, Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust. The second picture that God gave to describe His protection of the Jews was this; He would be like a mother bird flying over her nest to protect her young. The Jews did evil in sending to Egypt for help. However, God in His mercy would give the Jews the help and protection that they did not deserve. He wanted His people to completely understand the vanity of relying on other humans for help. As a lion could not be scared away from its prey or as the mother bird hovering over her young could not be run away, so the Lord God protected Jerusalem. He protected, delivered, passed over and rescued His people. In a very strong illustration God pictures Himself as literally throwing Himself over His people to provide the necessary protection for them. God became a shield to protect and preserve His people. What good news it must have been to the Jews when they learned that God would defend Jerusalem! We can also know that, if we walk with God, He will protect and preserve us as well. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you. (Isaiah 35:4) Isaiah 31:6-7, You Israelites! Return to the one against whom you have so blatantly rebelled! For at that time everyone will get rid of the silver and gold idols your hands sinfully made. (NET) A challenge to repentance and reformation Isaiah 31:6-7: The children of Israel had turned away from God. They were called upon to come back to the Lord and obey His will. These people had seriously offended God by their wicked conduct. Rebellion and revolt against God are words that describe the spiritual situation of the Jews. Simply stated, they were called upon to repent for their lack of faith in

7 God. The power of God and the love of God are both strong incentives for repentance. Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. (Hosea 6:1) One of the wicked things that the children of Israel had done was to make idols of silver and gold for worship. This was an evil thing. They made god s with their own hands. Repentance would lead them to destroy and throw away all of their idols. Repentance would bring them to worship the one true and living God. When troubles came upon the Jews, they quickly realized that their homemade gods were worthless. They destroyed them and discarded them. They needed help and their only help would come from God. In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness. And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land. (Zechariah 13:1-2) Isaiah 31:8-9, Assyria will fall by a sword, but not one humanmade; a sword not made by humankind will destroy them. They will run away from this sword and their young men will be forced to do hard labor. They will surrender their stronghold because of fear; their officers will be afraid of the Lord s battle flag. This is what the Lord says the one whose fire is in Zion, whose firepot is in Jerusalem. (NET) A prophecy of the fall of Sennacherib Isaiah 31:8-9: God was not at all frightened by the Assyrian army. The Assyrians would be killed, but not by the swords of humans. God would come upon the Assyrian army; He would taunt and devour them. In one night the Angel of the Lord would destroy 185,000 Assyrian soldiers. Then the

8 angel of the LORD went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses. (Isaiah 37:36) There would be no escape from the wrath of God. The Assyrians would be so frightened they would leave their flags behind. God, in His mighty power, will destroy His enemies; He will deliver and protect those who love and trust Him. God wanted the Jews to understand that if they repented of their sins there was no way the Assyrians would be allowed to overrun Jerusalem. The Lord is like a furious, burning fire that would protect Jerusalem. Anyone who attacked God s city and God s people would suffer terrible burns. Fire was often used in the Old Testament to make people aware of the presence of the Almighty. But, for God s protection to be extended, the people of Judah must repent! What a lesson that is for us also! Conclusion: A study of Isaiah 31makes it clear, that God should have been trusted to deliver Israel. Israel did not need Egypt because God is All- Powerful; He is mighty and able to help. When God s people are fighting without His protection, they will lose every time. God will protect His people and we should honor Him by continually trusting in Him and looking only to Him. One result of respecting God s son is that a person does his best to avoid sin. If we will be faithful to God, there is nothing that can stand in the way of our eternal victory! By Charles Box, Walnut Street Church of Christ, 306 Walnut Street, Greenville, Alabama 36037 Questions

9 on Isaiah 31:1-9 1. Contrast David s faith in God with the lack of faith evidenced by Isaiah s countrymen. 2. pictured s upon the and upon those who would from s. should have to for and. 3. Why did Israel put their trust in Egypt? 4. Contrast what Egypt could offer Israel with what God could provide for them.

10 5. Why did God consider these ancient Israelites as evil people? 6. would not be to help for the of. his. 7. What two illustrations did God use to illustrate the power of his help? 8. We should pray like David. me, O : for in thee do put my. 9. in His would give the the and that they did not. 10. We need to the of on other for.

11 11. to! We can also know that, if we with, He will and us as well. 12. The of had from. They had and against. They were called upon to. 13. s and are both for. 14. Ancient Israel worshipped worthless idols. Give examples of present day worthless idols being worshipped. 15. According to Zechariah 13:1-2, what would happen in that day? 16. What, according to Isaiah 31:8-9, would happen to Assyria?

12 17. wanted the to that if they of their there was no way the would be to. 18. The is like a, that would. who s and s would. 19. will this and we should Him by in Him and to Him. 20. are to do our best to. If we are to, there is that can in the of our!