Isa 20-21

Isa 20 - A Sign against Egypt and Cush

For several years Egypt was trying to establish ties with some of its northern neighbors, especially for those who would stand up against Assyria and its threats.

They promised aid and help in the time of need… but the underlying question was this, could you depend on them?

Well the answer to that is no, they couldnt be trusted, they sought after the things that would benefit them and them alone.

Now we know that Ashdod will stand up and revolt against Assyria and Sargon king of Assyria will strike down the king of Ashdod and put into place a puppet king.

Now this puppet king was killed, the rebellion continues and envoys were sent to Judah, Edom and Moab to try and rally them to the cause.

At some point in all this Isaiah performed and acted oracle by going about stripped and barefoot. His intention was to mine the fate of those taken captive by Assyria and also to expose the folly of trusting Egypt and not God

Now that we’ve had a little background, lets move forward and look at the passages..

Isaiah 20:1 ESV

1 In the year that the commander in chief, who was sent by Sargon the king of Assyria, came to Ashdod and fought against it and captured it—

So we can see what the time is, we know that Sargon II is one of the greatest kings of Assyria. The year from all we know would be about 711bc. Sargon himself reigns from 722-705 bc

Let me take you to 2 Kings 18:17

2 Kings 18:17 ESV

17 And the king of Assyria sent the Tartan, the Rab-saris, and the Rabshakeh with a great army from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. When they arrived, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is on the highway to the Washer’s Field.

So all that is taking place corresponds to this time in 2 Kings.

Now verse 2 Isa 20:2

Isaiah 20:2 ESV

2 at that time the Lord spoke by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, “Go, and loose the sackcloth from your waist and take off your sandals from your feet,” and he did so, walking naked and barefoot.

Now we are not exactly sure to the exact time all this is taking place but from the passage the sackcloth the Lord had had him wear is a rough clothing of mourning, and it was often what the prophets would wear at times. Like Elijah did in 2 Kings chapter 1 verse 8

2 Kings 1:8 ESV

8 They answered him, “He wore a garment of hair, with a belt of leather about his waist.” And he said, “It is Elijah the Tishbite.”

So the Lord told him to take off that clothing and to even remove the sandals from His feet.

And Isaiah is obedient to the Lord of the Lord, he called for him to go around naked and he did… it is like a modern parable if you will. God is calling for something, saying something that He is calling for the people to hear and the prophet acts this out …

For Isaiah, he is going about naked. It was a visual aid to help understand the word of God.

Now that seems so strange to us, doesn’t it. But even in that day and time, people who were captives, lets say soldiers who were caught, or people in general. Often they are stripped of their cloths and marched to their destinations. It is really a mark of humility and submission in that sense.

Isaiah is in total submission to God and his word as a message or oracle to the nation.

Now lets move on to verse 3

Isaiah 20:3 ESV

3 Then the Lord said, “As my servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot for three years as a sign and a portent against Egypt and Cush,

So the people watched Isaiah go about naked, for these 3 years they witnessed this and they wondered what this portent ( literally a sign or warning) meant concerning Egypt and Cush.

Was he just telling them that these rebels would not succeed against Assyria??

Really, God is telling them perhaps what they already knew deep down, but it wasn’t the message they wanted to hear. Those politicians of Jerusalem had pushed for an alliance with Egypt, Hezekiah and Ahaz have held off, but some wanted it, preached it saying to align with Egypt was the only way to succeed, in truth they had lost their focus on God.

But God is telling them, The Egyptians and the Cush would be the captives, they would fall since they could not stand against Assyria.

Think about the lesson here my friends, How can we except success, and help if we are looking to something other than God for our help.

The world certainly cannot help us, what they offer really brings death and despair. God is our Hope, our strength and our rock.

Mankind today are looking to a leader in America, we need to turn back to God and He will take care of the rest.

Now lets look at verse 4

Isaiah 20:4 ESV

4 so shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptian captives and the Cushite exiles, both the young and the old, naked and barefoot, with buttocks uncovered, the nakedness of Egypt.

Here God is proclaiming not that they would be conquered in a sense, but did say that Judah would see a sad string of captives being deported.

Now logically we would assume this could only take place after a big battle, most likely the battle of El Tekah in 701 bc. But nonetheless we see that Egypt will be defeated in that battle and they will be shamefully treated

People have always treated those they fought terrible. We have seen victors treat those who lost battles in ways as recorded in History treating them less than human in repayment for trying to war against them.

Here the captives would go about like Isaiah was walking, naked and barefoot, both the young and old.

In truth they are humiliated....

Now lets look at verse 5 Isa 20:5

Isaiah 20:5 ESV

5 Then they shall be dismayed and ashamed because of Cush their hope and of Egypt their boast.

Put to shame, the embarrassment of the best laid plans that have failed. Egypt and with them the Cushities thought they could rally a rebellion with the help of the other nations around them, but their efforts failed.

They are broken hearted and dismayed…

Isaiah 20:6 ESV

6 And the inhabitants of this coastland will say in that day, ‘Behold, this is what has happened to those in whom we hoped and to whom we fled for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria! And we, how shall we escape?’ ”

Now the coast land is mentioned here… the captives would be led back to Assyria along the coastal roads.

Those who lived along those roads would be the first to see these captives and thier shame as they are taken back.

And look at this last phrase Behold look at what happened to those we hoped and to home we fled for help to be delivered from the King of Assyria.

Many put their hope is a nation and a their ability to fight, but in truth they should have put their hope in God himself is the our strong deliver.

Those who put their hope in something else is ruined.

So lets think about the application of this chapter...

When you look at these six verses their is something we must really consider.

How or what do we really put our trust in… ???

How often do we look to self and our ability.

How often do people look to the government or to a certain leader to be the cure all for all our problems?

How often is God our last choice...

And that my friends is the saddest point in life, it is sad when God is always our last choice to look for help.

We must examine our life and do our best to focus on Him more and more each day.