Have you ever been in a stressful situation where you thought you needed help immediately with no time to waste? At once, you went searching for someone or something that could bring peace to your troubled soul. Did you consult God first? Did you not believe that He could meet all your needs? Has He ever given you a reason to doubt?
Perhaps you wanted a certain job so badly that you resorted to asking a person of influence to go behind the scenes and get that position for you. Or you had the wealth to make it happen yourself. Was it not important enough to pray about it first, asking God to open the right door that would benefit you, as well as others, spiritually? Depending on human wisdom, wealth and interference can very easily lead to failure and unhappiness.
Sometimes, when our desire for something is so great, we purposely bypass God because we fear He will say “no.” How sad it must make God to see that we don’t trust Him completely. How often has He given us victory over times of hopelessness.
In Isaiah, we read that because of the disobedience and idolatry of the Israelite people, God warned of judgment as far back as Moses’ time (Deut. 28:62-65). The seriousness of their sins was described in II Kings 17:15-17. They were ripe for judgment. The powerful nation of Assyria was on its way to punish the Jews by attacking Judah (Isaiah 30). They had already destroyed the Northern Kingdom of Israel and taken captives. The prophet Isaiah harshly rebuked God’s people. Here’s why. They, like us so often, were seeking help from anything or anyone rather than God. “‘Woe to the obstinate children,’ declares the Lord, ‘to those who carry out plans that are not mine, forming an alliance, but not by my Spirit… who go down to Egypt without consulting me; who look for help to Pharaoh’s protection, to Egypt’s shade for refuge’” (Isaiah 30:1-2 NIV1984).
From a human standpoint, we can understand why the Jews looked to Egypt for protection. They had a strong army, great wealth and powerful kings. They could save them from Assyria, a fearful and threatening foe. Because they refused to turn to God, the Israelites had a false sense of protection, and Isaiah quickly rebuked them and gave them reasons for God’s severe judgment.
They did not consult God first. They rejected His promises of protection. Isaiah called Egypt Rahab the Do-Nothing or Rahab who Sits Still. She was useless to offer any help to Israel and would sit idly by as the Assyrians attacked. Because God’s people turned to Egypt, God promised that Judah (as well as Egypt and Assyria) would fall. “Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help… but do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the Lord… The Egyptians are men and not God… both will perish together” (Isaiah 31:1,3).
What does this say to us? When trouble or distress comes our way, our first response should always be to consult God and seek His will, not our own. Only God knows what is best for us. He is over every strong nation, all great people, all worldly wisdom and all wealth. There is none other.
Isaiah did not leave the Israelites without hope. Even though judgment would come, “yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!” (Isaiah 30:18). We have the same hope. Don’t rush ahead; wait on God.
