“They carry out a plan, but not Mine” (v. 1)
Who do you turn to first when in dire trouble? It says a lot about what we truly believe.
Assyria was a nation whose army butchered people when they conquered them. Their exploits of torture and destruction are renowned through history – skinning people alive, impaling them through the groin, throwing babies up and catching them on spears. If you truly knew this army was on your back doorstep and coming for you, you would tremble in fear. But who would you turn to?
Israel as a covenant nation with God, one who had been in rebellion against him, decided to turn to Egypt. But God says this was not His heart for them.
“they make an alliance, but against My will” (v. 1)
God was ready to deliver them, but it had to be done his way–through repentance and trust. Instead, they ran to Egypt with their goods to try to get help from them.
“But Pharaoh’s protection will become your shame, and refuge in Egypt’s shadow your disgrace” (v. 3).
Egypt’s help would be nothing. It would be worthless and they would have obligated themselves to them for empty promises in return. The Lord calls Egypt at this time, “Rahab, the Do-Nothing” (v. 7).
Rahab was a prostitute and it could mean a reference that Egypt just uses Israel with empty promises and discards her after he has got out of her what she wants. Or it could mean the Hebrew word “Rahab” which means “pride.” That Egypt was full of pride but a do-nothing, a paper tiger in a sense.
The Lord told them to write this on a tablet as he wanted it written in stone that he said that it was foolish to put their trust in Egypt. That Egypt would use them and discard them. That Israel was being rebellious in seeking Egypt without ever seeking the Lord (v. 8-9). They were rebellious as they didn’t want to hear the truth. They only wanted the prophets and seers to speak of happy things (v. 11-12). They didn’t want to hear things like repentance.
They persisted in their rebellion and the Lord told them that their sin would be like a huge wall that suddenly collapsed and shattered. But the people said ‘no,’ if it gets bad we will run away on horses. The Lord said that would indeed be true. One enemy soldier would send 1000 of them fleeing (v. 17).
But the Lord says he delights to show mercy. If the repent and call on him, then he will deliver them. And when they did repent and seek him, he would restore their fortunes and their land and their provision. Once again good things would flow among the people.
Not only that but he would storm from heaven against the Assyrians, driving them out (v. 27-29). This while the people of God could sing and rejoice and play the flute (v. 29).
God’s heart is for mercy, not judgment. But judgment will come if there is not repentance. Sin ALWAYS harms people, the person sinning and the one sinned against, so God’s judgment is necessary when there is persistent, unrepentant sin. He would not be a good God if he didn’t bring justice in these circumstances.
This should cause us to tremble and fall to our knees, crying to God for mercy. Because let’s face it, sin is rampant and there is no repentance, even among God’s people. I’ve been astounded in these times not by the sin in the world, but the sin among us, God’s people.
We have two choices. Repent and seek God’s mercy. Or persist and experience his hand of judgment.
God desires mercy, not sacrifice. What will we choose?
It begins with us.
