30:1The rebellious children are the people of Judah (see 1:2), those who have rebelled against God. The negotiations for an alliance were underway, and Isaiah condemned their twisted plans. The people of Judah sought advice from everyone but God. When we are driven by fear, we tend to search everywhere for comfort, advice, and relief, hoping to find an easy way out of our troubles. Instead, we should consult God. Although he gives emergency help in a crisis, he prefers to be our guide throughout our life. By reading his Word and actively seeking to do his will, we can maintain our bond with him who provides stability no matter what the crisis.
Life Application Study BibleIsaiahChapter 30
Isaiah 30
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 1136, 1137, 1138
A few verse numbers on this page were hard to read in the scan and are marked with a dotted underline — compare with the original page image if in doubt.
30Isaiah 30
1thus piling up your sins.
2For without consulting me,you have gone down to Egypt for help.You have put your trust in Pharaoh's protection.You have tried to hide in his shade.
3But by trusting Pharaoh, you will be humiliated,and by depending on him, you will be disgraced.
4For though his power extends to Zoanand his officials have arrived in Hanes,5 all who trust in him will be ashamed.He will not help you.Instead, he will disgrace you.”8This message came to me concerning the animals in the Negev:The caravan moves slowlyacross the terrible desert to Egypt—donkeys weighed down with richesand camels loaded with treasure—all to pay for Egypt’s protection.They travel through the wilderness,a place of lionesses and lions,a place where vipers and poisonous snakes live.All this, and Egypt will give you nothing in return.
7Egypt's promises are worthless!Therefore, I call her Rahab—the Harmless Dragon.*
A Warning for Rebellious Judah
88 Now go and write down these words.Write them in a book.They will stand until the end of timeas a witness9 that these people are stubborn rebelswho refuse to pay attention to the LORD’s instructions.
10They tell the seers,
11Stop seeing visions!”They tell the prophets,“Don't tell us what is right.Tell us nice things.Tell us lies.
11 Forget all this gloom.Get off your narrow path.Stop telling us about your‘Holy One of Israel.’”
12This is the reply of the Holy One of Israel:“Because you despise what I tell youand trust instead in oppression and lies,13 calamity will come upon you suddenly—like a bulging wall that bursts and falls.In an instant it will collapseand come crashing down.
14You will be smashed like a piece of pottery—shattered so completely thatthere won't be a piece big enoughto carry coals from a fireplaceora little water from the well.”
15This is what the Sovereign Lor, the Holy One of Israel, says: “Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength. But you would have none of it. 16You said, ‘No, we will get our help from Egypt. They will give us swift horses for riding into battle.’ But the only swiftness you are going to see is the swiftness of your enemies chasing you! 17One of them will chase a thousand of you. Five of them will make all of you flee. You will be left like a lonely flagpole on a hill or a tattered banner on a distant mountaintop.”
Blessings for the LoRp’s People
1818 So the LORD must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the LORD is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for his help.
19O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem,you will weep no more.He will be gracious if you ask for help.He will surely respond to the sound of your cries.
20Though the LORD gave you adversity for foodand suffering for drink,he will still be with you to teach you.You will see your teacher with your own eyes.
21Your own ears will hear him.Right behind you a voice will say,“This is the way you should go,”whether to the right or to the left.
22Then you will destroy all your silver idols and your precious gold images. You will throw them out like filthy rags, saying to them, “Good riddance!” 23Then the LORD will bless you with rain at planting time. There will be wonderful harvests and plenty of pastureland for your livestock. 24The oxen and donkeys that till the ground will eat good grain, its chaff blown away by the wind. 2°In that day, when your enemies are slaughtered and the towers fali, there will be streams of water flowing down every mountain and hill. 26The moon will be as bright as the sun, and the sun will be seven times brighter—like the light of seven days in one! So it will be when the LORD begins to heal his people and cure the wounds he gave them.
27Look! The LORD is coming from far away,burning with anger,surrounded by thick, rising smoke.His lips are filled with fury;his words consume like fire.
28His hot breath pours out like a floodup to the neck of his enemies.He will sift out the proud nations for destruction.He will bridle them and lead them away to ruin.
29But the people of God will sing a song of joy,like the songs at the holy festivals.You will be filled with joy,as when a flutist leads a group of pilgrimsto Jerusalem, the mountain of the LORD—to the Rock of Israel.
30And the LORD will make his majestic voice heard.He will display the strength of his mighty arm.It will descend with devouring flames,with cloudbursts, thunderstorms, and huge hailstones.
31At the LORD’s command, the Assyrians will be shattered.He will strike them down with his royal scepter.
32And as the LORD strikes them with his rod of punishment,his people will celebrate with tambourines and harps.Lifting his mighty arm, he will fight the Assyrians.
33Topheth—the place of burning—has long been ready for the Assyrian king;the pyre is piled high with wood.The breath of the LORD, like fire from a volcano,will set it ablaze.
The Futility of Relying on Egypt
31 1 What sorrow awaits those who look to Egypt for help,trusting their horses, chariots, and charioteersand depending on the strength of human armiesinstead of looking to the LORD,the Holy One of Israel.
Textual footnotes
- 30:7 Hebrew Rahab who sits still. Rahab is the name of a mythical sea monster that represents chaos in ancient literature. The name is used here as a poetic name for Egypt.
Life Application Notes 9 notes
30:2ffHezekiah had been seeking a defensive alliance with Egypt against Sennacherib of Assyria (see 2 Kings 18:21).
30:6This message is directed to those who carried bribes to Egypt through the desert in the Negev region.
30:7This Harmless Dragon (also called Rahab) was a mythological female sea monster associated with Leviathan (see the note on 27:1; also Job 9:13; 26:12). It was a name associated with Egypt, where hippopotamuses, perhaps a likeness to Rahab, sat on the Nile River and did nothing.
30:10,14Some people in Judah may have sought refuge in Egypt. In their desire to find security, they wanted to hear only good news. They did not welcome the truth from God's prophets. Often the truth makes us uncomfortable. We prefer lies and illusions when they make us feel more secure. It is much better to face reality than to live a lie. Don’t settle for something that makes you feel comfortable but is not true.
30:15God warned Judah that turning to Egypt and other nations for military might could not save them. Only God could do that. They must wait for him “in quietness and confidence.” No amount of fast talking or hasty activity could speed up God’s grand design. We have nothing to say to God but thank you. Salvation comes from God alone. Because he has saved us, we can trust him and be Peacefully confident that he will give us strength to face our difficulties. We should lay aside our well-laid plans and allow him to act.
30:20The LORD gave his people adversity for food and suffering for drink, but he promised to be with them, teach them, and guide them during hard times. God expects a lot from us, and many times following him can be painful; but he always acts out of his love for us. Next time you go through a difficult time, try to appreciate the experience and grow from it, learning what God wants to teach you. God may be showing you his love by patiently walking with you through adversity.
30:21When the people of Jerusalem left God’s path, he would correct them. He will do the same for us. But when we hear his voice of correction, we must be willing to follow it!
30:27The judgment of God will be accompanied by thick, rising smoke and words that consume like fire (see 33:14; Luke 12:49; Hebrews 12:29). People who were brought up in a church but dropped out often complain about the preaching of the wrath of God. Yet his wrath and anger are very real and are designed for the rebellious and for those who hate God, not for those who are humble and love him. Are you one of God's people? Help others discover God’s love so that his wrath will never be an issue for them.