Page 63 - Isaiah Student Worktext

V. 6-7 What riches Judah had, they carried on the backs of donkeys and camels to Egypt to ‘buy’ the
protection they thought only Egypt could provide.

God tells His children that Egypt will be no help and assigns Egypt the name Rahab-Hem-Shebeth, which
translates ‘Rahab Who Sits Idle’. Rahab does not refer to the famous Rahab from Joshua, but means
‘arrogant’, and is symbolic of the evil forces in the world. By calling Egypt the arrogant who just sits idle,
God shows that Egypt has no power to protect Judah.

V. 8-11 Rejection of God also means rejection of His word. The people of God didn’t want to listen to
the words of the prophets, who were spokesmen for God. They wanted to hear only ‘smooth things’,
things which would deceive.

We have a number of choices of news media in the US. Some support one side, some the other. We
make a choice to listen to the media that most closely aligns with what we already believe. We only
want to hear the ‘smooth things’, the things which may be totally untrue.

False prophets speak only words that tickle the ears. Luke 6: 26, 2 Timothy 4: 3-4

V. 12-14 Listening to false prophets is like hiding behind a flimsy wall. Like trying to use broken pottery
which is incapable of being used in the oven or to carry water.

V. 16-17 Still, as always, God extends His olive branch. Return to Me and you shall be saved. Still, Judah
refused, and said that even if the enemy came, they would be able to escape on their horses. But God
reveals that one thousand of His people will flee at the threat of one. The defeat will be an utter one.

V. 18 Once again, God extends His grace. He will wait so that He might extend His grace to His people.
How very patient God is with us! Of course, He is also a God of justice. Because He delays doesn’t mean
He approves.

V. 19-20 This is the promise of the remnant again…they will again dwell in Zion, and they will weep no
more. The ultimate fulfillment of this is in heaven. Revelation 21: 4.

When He hears us, when we cry out to Him, He will answer. There will be adversity…we are promised
persecution. 2 Timothy 3: 12. But we are also promised that He will hear us when we cry out to Him.

V. 21 One of my favorite verses. We often wonder which way we should turn, what path we should
take. If we will but listen, He will guide us. The decision about whether or not to follow His guidance is
up to us, but it is there for us to follow. ‘This is the way, walk in it.’

V. 22 We are called to put away the things that have stood between us and God. Tell these things to
‘get away’.

V. 23-26 In the contemporary fulfillment, God will restore the bounty of the Promised Land. It will rain,
the increase of the earth will be bountiful. It won’t happen until the ‘towers fall’, which is symbolic of
human pride and arrogance.

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