Isaiah 10
Today’s Passage: Isaiah 10
Isaiah 10 begins with a broad “Woe, to those who decree iniquitous decrees” and he describes what those people would be like. They are robbers, they are predators, they seek to destroy. Isaiah asks these people, “What will you do when your punishment comes?” “His hand is stretched out still.” Isaiah broadly describes this wicked person and describes God’s persistent judgment that can not and will not allow sin to stand.
In verse 5, Isaiah transitions from a broad picture of this wicked person, to a specific picture of wickedness - the Assyrians. They are described as a godless nation, and God gives us a glimpse of their hearts. They view themselves as kings, and they view the LORD as an idol that can be destroyed (v. 11).
They think that all they have been done is in their strength, by their wisdom, at the wave of their hand. Their hearts are littered with the words, “my, my, my.” (v. 13-14).
Should they as the creation boast over the one who created them? Should the tool glorify itself over the craftsman? (v. 15). No! God describes his response to this atrocious arrogance - in sending sickness, and destruction.
“The light of Israel will become a fire and his Holy One a flame, and it will burn and devour his thorns and briers in one day.” An invasive weed can not simply be pulled up. Thorns and briers will sprout back up again and again, the only way to destroy this kind of terror is completely.
In the midst of this destruction though, God points back to the remnant. A small remnant that you can probably count on a few fingers, but a remnant that will lean on the Lord. Isaiah is filled with near promises and future promises. God reminds His people of his continual faithfulness in both.
Israel was “as the sand of the sea.” God had fulfilled his promise to grow Abraham's descendants to a mighty nation, and now, in leaving a remnant we will see God do that again through the coming of Jesus. He says that destruction is decreed, overflowing with righteousness. This is both a promise toward Judah and to the end of the age when God will destroy sin permanently.
God references the Assyrians as similar to the Egyptians. That they will strike the Israelites and it will seem like they have done tremendous damage, but just like God brought them victory over the Egyptians, He promises to bring His armies against the Assyrians.
God brings justice to sin, and “they lofty will be brought low.” Not “may” or “might” but WILL. Israel was called, and we are called to set our minds on who God is, and to trust that He is good with the near and the future promises.
How are you trusting God today? Do you find it easy or difficult to remember who God is? Where do you look to when sin overwhelms?
Isaiah 10 begins with a broad “Woe, to those who decree iniquitous decrees” and he describes what those people would be like. They are robbers, they are predators, they seek to destroy. Isaiah asks these people, “What will you do when your punishment comes?” “His hand is stretched out still.” Isaiah broadly describes this wicked person and describes God’s persistent judgment that can not and will not allow sin to stand.
In verse 5, Isaiah transitions from a broad picture of this wicked person, to a specific picture of wickedness - the Assyrians. They are described as a godless nation, and God gives us a glimpse of their hearts. They view themselves as kings, and they view the LORD as an idol that can be destroyed (v. 11).
They think that all they have been done is in their strength, by their wisdom, at the wave of their hand. Their hearts are littered with the words, “my, my, my.” (v. 13-14).
Should they as the creation boast over the one who created them? Should the tool glorify itself over the craftsman? (v. 15). No! God describes his response to this atrocious arrogance - in sending sickness, and destruction.
“The light of Israel will become a fire and his Holy One a flame, and it will burn and devour his thorns and briers in one day.” An invasive weed can not simply be pulled up. Thorns and briers will sprout back up again and again, the only way to destroy this kind of terror is completely.
In the midst of this destruction though, God points back to the remnant. A small remnant that you can probably count on a few fingers, but a remnant that will lean on the Lord. Isaiah is filled with near promises and future promises. God reminds His people of his continual faithfulness in both.
Israel was “as the sand of the sea.” God had fulfilled his promise to grow Abraham's descendants to a mighty nation, and now, in leaving a remnant we will see God do that again through the coming of Jesus. He says that destruction is decreed, overflowing with righteousness. This is both a promise toward Judah and to the end of the age when God will destroy sin permanently.
God references the Assyrians as similar to the Egyptians. That they will strike the Israelites and it will seem like they have done tremendous damage, but just like God brought them victory over the Egyptians, He promises to bring His armies against the Assyrians.
God brings justice to sin, and “they lofty will be brought low.” Not “may” or “might” but WILL. Israel was called, and we are called to set our minds on who God is, and to trust that He is good with the near and the future promises.
How are you trusting God today? Do you find it easy or difficult to remember who God is? Where do you look to when sin overwhelms?
Written By: Paulette Black
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