We are reminded the Covenant of Moses was but an expansion on the Covenant of Noah, as applied in the particular instance of the Nation of Israel. It's provisions offered worldly rewards for a proper worldly performance. God through Moses claimed He was both, the God of the Hebrews, as well as God of all creation, and there was no other god. The Hebrew people were, as a whole, unable to absorb this claim. They came to view Him as a quaint fable of their barbaric past, irrelevant to their modern times. While the requirements of the Law were tied directly to Judah's fortunes, they had during Isaiah's ministry convinced themselves human wisdom was sufficient to bring them national security, prosperity, and glory as a people.
Within the royal counsel was a distinct partisan group which favored alliance with Egypt. This was a continuation of the same bunch who pined to return to the Nile before they ever set foot in the Promised Land. While that generation died in the Wilderness, their poisonous lusts were never forgotten. In the latter Monarchy Period, the royal court of Judah was often overwhelmed by those who were just too sure of their wisdom and maturity, but God calls them smart-aleck kids, seeking to return to slavery. For all the troops Pharaoh may have been able to field, when the day of battle with Assyria came, Egypt would sit it out.
Using the beasts of burden retained for crossing the Negev into the Nile Delta, Isaiah paints a symbol of going to all sorts of trouble and expense for nothing. Dodging all the predators, struggling under the loads of tribute and bribes, Isaiah prophetically refers to Egypt as arrogant and lazy. To insure no one misses the point, God instructs Isaiah to make this a public record of the attitude of Judah's leaders. They are like spoiled brats who would do anything to avoid having to hear any more of the Law, warning the prophets and seers to remain silent, unless they are ready to talk nicely about the planned alliance. If the only talk of God is about obedience to the Law, then He was not to be mentioned again. Their much vaunted wisdom would turn into a wall collapsing suddenly; so badly broken would be their plans, no useful pieces could be salvaged for any purpose.
God pointedly reminds them if they would simply abide by the Law, everything they believed they wanted would be supplied, including making Assyria nothing more than a noisy nuisance. Instead, they spoke of evacuating in Egyptian chariots, presumably while Pharaoh's troops march north to fend of Assyria. Well, they would most certainly flee, and they'll be needing the fastest chariots Egypt can offer. Instead of protecting Judah, God would amplify the Assyrian power. Here we see the ancient symbol of battle failure, when the sense of God's protection was withdrawn, and fear taking over the troops. The only thing left would be scattered outposts here and there. Only by God's own grace and mercy would they survive at all.
This contrasts with what they could have had, and would have again, if they would but obey the Law, and keep the Covenant. Isaiah conjures up the shining image of Jerusalem at peace, prosperous and healthy. They will pass through hard times, indeed, but could recover if they would but choose it. Bring the teachers of the Law back out of retirement. Learn to think in terms of Law, so you won't have to ask, you'll know what you should do. Cleanse your lives of idolatry and react violently when someone tries to bring idols back.
For only in keeping the Law can they expect God to maintain the natural order, with seasonal rains, bountiful crops, strong and plentiful herds and flocks, and sufficient water running off every hill. The whole world would seem a much brighter place. God would heal all their ills and replace their losses. Or, should they prefer, they can wallow in His wrath. God comes to judge sin, and all the nations which ignore His Law for them will be destroyed in their due season. Would Judah prefer to wear the bit and bridle of sin, or would they prefer to see only their enemies so enslaved? It would be so easy for Judah to sit secure, ready to sing the celebration hymns when Assyria falls outside the very gates of Jerusalem. That place would then become a dance floor of victory.
The final image is seeing the wide, flat shadowed field just off the south end of Jerusalem. In ancient times, Canaanites would worship their "King" god, Molech, by tossing their children into the arms of his image built on top of a bronze oven. But when Judah obeys the Lord, the only resemblance to that horrific image would be the fire of God devouring Assyrian troops. Will Judah choose right, so this deliverance comes before the plundering march of Assyria, or after?
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By Ed Hurst
14 January 2009
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