Isaiah 20

CHAPTER 20

A Prophecy Against Egypt and Cush (20:1–6)

1–6 In 722 B.C., Assyria conquered Israel, the northern kingdom; Judah under King Hezekiah naturally felt threatened.

So Hezekiah was under great pressure to form an alliance with Egypt and Cush⁹³ against the Assyrians. In 711 B.C., the Philistine city of Ashdod revolted against Assyrian rule; the Philistines believed that Egypt, Cush, and possibly their old enemy Judah would join them in their rebellion. This prophecy against Egypt and Cush is Isaiah’s (God’s) warning to Judah not to rely on Egypt and Cush, for they would soon be defeated and humiliated by the Assyrians.

This prophecy is an “acted prophecy”: here Isaiah not only spoke on God’s behalf, but he also acted out what he spoke; in this case he acted the part of a humiliated Egyptian or Cushite warrior. Just as Isaiah was stripped naked⁹⁴ (except for a loincloth), so the warriors of Egypt and Cush would be stripped naked by the Assyrians. Isaiah’s message to the people of Judah was this: do not trust the Egyptians and Cushites to protect you from the Assyrians; trust only in God.

Isaiah must have felt foolish walking around almost naked for three years, yet he did what God told him to do. One day God might call upon us to do something that appears “foolish” in men’s eyes. Will we, like Isaiah, be willing to obey?