Isaiah devoted chapters 7-39 to convince the people of Jerusalem and Judah to trust God rather than alliances and idols. With an Assyrian army threatening the people, the temptation was to travel to Egypt and seek that nation’s help.
Isaiah revealed God’s estimation of the matter.
Woe to the rebellious children, says the Lord,
who carry out a plan but not mine;
who make an alliance but against my will,
adding sin to sin;
Who set out to go down to Egypt
without asking for my counsel,
to take refuge in the protection of Pharaoh
and to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt. (Isaiah 30:1-2)
One feature of God’s indictment on His people stands out to me. They are rebellious, because they carry out a plan that doesn’t take account of God’s opinion.
During my prayer time, I’ve been confronted with three challenges to my attitudes and actions.
- God’s purposes don’t revolve around my ego. It shouldn’t surprise anyone that God’s activity in history is not contingent on my puny ego. Since that is true, why do I act as if my ego is so important?
- I can trust God enough to surrender to His activity in my life.
I was a guest speaker at a youth camp in my early 20s. To show their appreciation of me, the high school boys picked me up, carried me down the stairs of the camp, and tossed me into the pool. At no time was I afraid that I would be dropped.
Why can’t I trust the all-powerful God, who loves me more than I love myself, and surrender to His good purpose for my life?
When I surrender to God, it is His responsibility to carry me. That should be good enough.
- God’s best gifts are not always what we think. When I recently meditated on God’s gifts to me, I thought of health, children, a home, and money in the bank. I am thankful for these gifts, but the Spirit reminded me of His gift.
God wants to give this gift: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23).
Some Bible students believe the primary gift of the Spirit is love and the following gifts flow out of a Spirit-inspired love.
If you are like me and don’t want to fall into the rebellion of the ancient citizens of Jerusalem, let’s strive to let God choose for us. Let’s let go of our ego, willing surrender to our loving Lord, and value the gifts of the Spirit more than customary American so-called blessings.
The Failure of Our Ego
People rejected Isaiah’s counsel and resorted to alliances with failing nations. People in AA often say, “My own best thinking got me (pick one or more) in jail, treatment, a recovery house, homeless, or sick.
When the people of Jerusalem put their ego at the center of God’s purpose, He told them what would happen.
Everyone comes to shame
through a people that cannot profit them,
that brings neither help nor profit,
only shame and disgrace.
For Egypt’s help is worthless and empty;
therefore I have called her,
“Rahab who sits still.” (Isaiah 30:5, 7)
Broken nations, families, businesses, and individuals resemble the people Isaiah mentions in these verses. At their root, the issue is they have placed their ego at the center, expecting God to fulfill their wishes.
Rather than consult God and surrender to His direction, they pursue their preferences. The result is shame, disgrace, worthless, and empty results.
Rahab is Isaiah’s pet name for Egypt. It was a mythological sea monster and revered in Egypt. Before God, this sea monster “sits still” at the command of God.
Our best choice is to surrender our ego and seek God’s counsel in all things.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today.
Real Voices 