Isaiah 31
Today's Passage: Isaiah 31
God has continually warned Judah against forming an alliance with Egypt. Why? Because Israel viewed Egypt as what would save them from destruction. Egypt had horses, chariots, and strong men, all of which presented an illusion of safety and security.
They viewed themselves as wise. They determined strength by what could be easily measured. They valued their fear of the Assyrians as greater than their fear of the Lord. They did not “look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the Lord,” and so in all their “wisdom”, they proved to be fools.
If you jump to the book of Romans, you will see the same thing in the Roman church that, “Claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.” Hundreds of years later and people are still trading the truth of who God is for a lie.
This kind of “wisdom” has only one end - disaster. Because this kind of wisdom looks into the face of the all powerful God of the universe and says “I can do this myself.” In the scrambling of alliances, in the worshiping of idols, it all has one thing in common - a sinful departure from God’s hand.
And in Isaiah 31 we see a picture of God’s hand. The hand that stretches out leading “the helper [Egypt] to stumble, and he who is helped [Judah] to fall,” and they will all perish together.”
In the midst of the disaster, and God’s righteous judgment, God is described as two very different animals: a lion and a bird. In these animals we see a beautiful picture of God’s righteous judgment and grace.
The lion is unrelenting in his attack of his prey. No shouting or bolstering of power will scare this Lion, and that is the posture that God brings to His judgment of sin. He is unrelenting in His fight against the sin that ruins His good design. God can not be scared away by you or your sin, but He does require that your sin is put to death.
The birds are described as “hovering.” The purpose of their flight? To protect Jerusalem. In this hand of protection, we see hope in God’s ultimate plan of deliverance, that He will not leave His creation to despair, but that His promises WILL come to fruition. Not only is this a hovering of protection, but of deliverance. Not only will Jerusalem be spared, but it will be rescued.
At this point in history, we can read this and see the ultimate rescue that God offers through Christ. That in sparing a remnant of Judah, God is creating the line of Christ, so that we all may be rescued from our sinful departure. And though Assyria will triumph over Judah and Jerusalem on this earth, we can look to the greater Judah and Jerusalem that is established in Christ’s reign.
We can see the power of the lion and the sovereignty of the birds and be called to repentance. That in turning to Him, we are turning from our sin. We are choosing to say “I can not do this, or anything myself,” and we are clinging to the Lord.
How have you asked God to reveal and triumph over your sin? How do you see God’s sovereignty this week? How has His kindness led to repentance?
Written By: Paulette Black
God has continually warned Judah against forming an alliance with Egypt. Why? Because Israel viewed Egypt as what would save them from destruction. Egypt had horses, chariots, and strong men, all of which presented an illusion of safety and security.
They viewed themselves as wise. They determined strength by what could be easily measured. They valued their fear of the Assyrians as greater than their fear of the Lord. They did not “look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the Lord,” and so in all their “wisdom”, they proved to be fools.
If you jump to the book of Romans, you will see the same thing in the Roman church that, “Claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.” Hundreds of years later and people are still trading the truth of who God is for a lie.
This kind of “wisdom” has only one end - disaster. Because this kind of wisdom looks into the face of the all powerful God of the universe and says “I can do this myself.” In the scrambling of alliances, in the worshiping of idols, it all has one thing in common - a sinful departure from God’s hand.
And in Isaiah 31 we see a picture of God’s hand. The hand that stretches out leading “the helper [Egypt] to stumble, and he who is helped [Judah] to fall,” and they will all perish together.”
In the midst of the disaster, and God’s righteous judgment, God is described as two very different animals: a lion and a bird. In these animals we see a beautiful picture of God’s righteous judgment and grace.
The lion is unrelenting in his attack of his prey. No shouting or bolstering of power will scare this Lion, and that is the posture that God brings to His judgment of sin. He is unrelenting in His fight against the sin that ruins His good design. God can not be scared away by you or your sin, but He does require that your sin is put to death.
The birds are described as “hovering.” The purpose of their flight? To protect Jerusalem. In this hand of protection, we see hope in God’s ultimate plan of deliverance, that He will not leave His creation to despair, but that His promises WILL come to fruition. Not only is this a hovering of protection, but of deliverance. Not only will Jerusalem be spared, but it will be rescued.
At this point in history, we can read this and see the ultimate rescue that God offers through Christ. That in sparing a remnant of Judah, God is creating the line of Christ, so that we all may be rescued from our sinful departure. And though Assyria will triumph over Judah and Jerusalem on this earth, we can look to the greater Judah and Jerusalem that is established in Christ’s reign.
We can see the power of the lion and the sovereignty of the birds and be called to repentance. That in turning to Him, we are turning from our sin. We are choosing to say “I can not do this, or anything myself,” and we are clinging to the Lord.
How have you asked God to reveal and triumph over your sin? How do you see God’s sovereignty this week? How has His kindness led to repentance?
Written By: Paulette Black
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