Isaiah 31
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CHAPTER 31
Woe to Those Who Rely on Egypt (31:1–9)
1–3 This chapter repeats in summary form much of the previous chapter; Isaiah is again rebuking the people of Judah for putting their trust in Egypt rather than in God. What folly! The Egyptians are but men; their horses are but flesh. What seems so great and powerful to humans is no match for God’s outstretched hand. Both he who helps and he who is helped—that is, both Egyptian and Judahite—will perish together (verse 3).
We modern people are very much like the ancient people of Judah. We put our trust in what we can see and touch. But these things are insignificant compared to the power of God’s Spirit. “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,” says the Lord Almighty (Zechariah 4:6).
4–5 Here the Lord compares Himself to a great lion that does not fear the shouts of shepherds. He also compares Himself to a mother bird protecting her nest. The Lord will “pass over” Jerusalem and rescue it, even as He is bringing judgment on its enemies141 (verse 5).
6–7 Here Isaiah calls upon the people of Judah to return to God. The judgment Isaiah has just described has not yet fallen; it is still in the future. But it will surely fall if the people do not repent. When it falls, they will see that their idols are helpless to protect them, and they will throw them away (Isaiah 30:22). “Much better to throw them away now!” says Isaiah.
8–9 God, not the Egyptians, will destroy the Assyrians—and not by a sword but by the angel of the LORD (2 Kings 19:35–36). Their stronghold, their capital city of Nineveh, will eventually fall (see Nahum 3:17)—because of terror (verse 9). God’s glory resides in Zion (Jerusalem), and from Zion His terrifying fire of judgment will break out upon the nations.