It must have hurt the pride of the Hebrew people to hear that God was sending the powerful Assyria against them and calling them a godless nation.
Woe to Assyria, the rod of my anger—
the club in their hands is my fury!
Against a godless nation I send him,
and against the people of my wrath I command him,
to take spoil and seize plunder,
and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. (Isaiah 10:5-6)
The people of Isaiah’s time were far from godless. Their issue was having too many gods. They worshiped Yahweh, but also included Canaanite gods like Baal and Asherah.
Additionally, they relied on powerful nations like Assyria, who pursued them after conquering the northern kingdom. They also placed great trust in human leaders.
The issue with these alliances and trusted leaders was that they depended on everything except the one true God.
God used Assyria to defeat the nation and punish them for their unfaithfulness and the sins often highlighted by the prophets.
The Pride of Assyria
It’s quite possible that the Assyrians were unaware of being used by God. This was something God disclosed to the prophet Isaiah. What stands out about their behavior is their belief that they could conquer other nations, thinking Judah was no different from the rest.
But this is not what he intends,
nor does he have this in mind,
but it is in his heart to destroy
and to cut off nations not a few.
For he says:
“Are not my commanders all kings?
As my hand has reached to the kingdoms of the idols
whose images were greater than those of Jerusalem and Samaria,
shall I not do to Jerusalem and her idols
what I have done to Samaria and her images?” (Isaiah 10:7-8, 10-11)
In ancient times, it was believed that conquering a nation’s armies meant also defeating their gods. Often, after a victory, soldiers would enter the temples of the defeated and either destroy or capture their idols.
The Assyrians saw Yahweh as just another idol like those from neighboring nations. God could not allow this assumption to stand, so judgment was prophesied.
When the Lord has finished all his work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, he will punish the arrogant boasting of the king of Assyria and his haughty pride. For he says:*
“By the strength of my hand I have done it,
and by my wisdom, for I have understanding;
I have removed the boundaries of peoples
and have plundered their treasures;
like a bull I have brought down those who sat on thrones. (Isaiah 10:12-13)
The Tool that Forgot Its Maker
Due to the wind, our garage floor needs sweeping. I have a new push broom, but there’s something odd about it. It doesn’t work unless I use it.
This is similar to what God said about Assyria. The only power Assyria had to succeed was the power God gave them.
Shall the ax vaunt itself over the one who wields it
or the saw magnify itself against the one who handles it?
As if a rod should raise the one who lifts it up,
or as if a staff should lift the one who is not wood!
Therefore the Sovereign, the Lord of hosts,
will send wasting sickness among his stout warriors,
and under his glory a burning will be kindled
like the burning of fire. (Isaiah 10:15-16)
Sweeping the garage floor isn’t a big deal. It’s completely different from a warring army that should serve God’s purposes but chooses to follow its own agenda. God had a plan for them and would stop them with a wasting disease.
Reflections
Isaiah’s message is crucial for us to examine.
It teaches us about arrogance and pride. When we rely solely on ourselves, our strength, and our abilities without trusting God or following His guidance, we can face negative outcomes.
The Hebrew people faced God’s judgment because of their pride and neglect of the people God wanted them to care for. Similarly, the Assyrians also succumbed to pride and faced judgment too.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross and I discussed this passage on YouTube today.
Real Voices 