Title: Rebellious children/Isaiah 30:1-7
“Woe to the rebellious children, says the LORD, for they devise, but not by me; they make covenants, and not by my spirit, but add sin to sin. They went down to Egypt to do so, but they did not put it in my mouth. Therefore, the power of Pharaoh will be your disgrace, and your refuge in the shadow of Egypt will be your disgrace. They will all be put to shame by a nation that does not benefit them, for that nation does not help, it does not benefit, it is a disgrace and a disgrace... 1 - 7)
When the Jewish people, who should always rely on God and look only at God, were threatened by Assyria, they went to Egypt to form an alliance with them and betrayed God's grace. The people of Judah are children of rebellion, children of disobedience, children of depravity and rebellion. God's wrath will come upon these rebellious children.
1. Judah's Rebellion
(1) The sin of not consulting with God
The people of Judah did not pray to God and did what they had planned, and they went to Egypt without God's word and made an oath (verse 1). All of this is the result of sin plus sin.
“My mouth” (verse 2) refers to the prophet Isaiah, a servant of God. The people of Judah did not wait for God's answer and acted in their own way, avoiding the need to consult with God.
What you do without asking the Lord is not recognized by the Lord (Hos. 8:4).
Also, asking and asking for permission are two different things. If we ask God, we will have to wait for His answer with humility and patience.
On the other hand, what does not go according to the Lord's way is not for the Lord to know. Abraham, who had received the promise that God would give him a son, waited for a long time and no son was born, so he followed his own way and gave birth to Ishmael. However, Ishmael was not a son born according to God's method, and the Jewish people had to suffer because of Ishmael. Whatever we do, we have to ask God, get God's permission, and do it God's way.
(2) The sin of not trusting in God
The word that he went down to Egypt (verse 2) is a word that appears frequently in the Old Testament (Genesis 12:10, 42:3, 43:15, Numbers 20:15, Deuteronomy 10:22). The word “going down” can be seen as a geographical expression, but it refers to a depraved step. To go down to Egypt refers to the faith that abandoned God's faith and abandoned God. The Jewish people said they believed in God with their lips, but in reality they depended on Egypt. They also trusted more material and visible things and did not believe in God who protects them with heavenly armies and angels.
A person who doubts God or does not believe in God is a person who has reached bankruptcy in faith. Whatever our circumstances, we must trust in God. Those who don't are soon to be rebellious.
2. The calamity brought about by the sins of the nation of Judah
(1) Egypt becomes a shame for Judah
The words shame and shame occur five times between verses 3 and 5. Judah sent dignitaries to Zoan and Hanes, the major capitals of Egypt, and according to verse 6, they brought many gifts and asked for help with a humble attitude.
They traveled a dangerous long way and asked for aid at great expense, but all in vain. After all, the people of Judah paid a lot of money and bought shame. If they had believed in God, such adventures and bribes would not have been necessary. The nation of Judah was finally put to shame by doing what is in the human eye, without looking for a genuine helper.
(2) The only thing I got from the pride of Egypt is discouragement.
Rahab in verse 7 is an Egyptian nickname (Psalm 87:4). In Hebrew, Rahab refers to swearing and proud Egypt. Proud Egypt was like Rahab, who offered to help and did not act, so she sat still. This refers to the false appearance of human beings. The only thing that comes before the lies of man is discouragement.
(3) Being humiliated for trying to get help
“Therefore the power of Pharaoh will be your shame, and your refuge in the shadow of Egypt will be your disgrace” (verse 3).
“They will all be put to shame by a nation that does not benefit them, for that nation cannot help, nor benefit, but a disgrace and a disgrace” (verse 5). It is a punishment from God that puts people to shame instead of helping them.
Let me conclude.
Life is a series of choices. So, you have to make the right choice.
God is unchanging, powerful, faithful, and willing to love and help His people. We must choose to stand on God's side and not on Egypt. Whenever we stand on God's side, we become people who have made wise choices. Those who live in the world with the principle that they are always on God's side without doing what they see become deeply rooted believers.
We must believe in God's omnipotence and consult with Him. Instead of relying on Pharaoh just because he is afraid, we should take refuge in God. God is our strength.
Judah was punished by God for hiding from God's servant and secretly going down to Egypt. After praying to God, we must get permission and become saints who work in God's way.