Season 6, Podcast 84, Isaiah 30:1-17, “Trust in the Lord Pt I.” Artwork

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Season 6, Podcast 84, Isaiah 30:1-17, “Trust in the Lord Pt I.”

July 14, 2025 • Ronald • Season 6 • Episode 84

Season 6, Podcast 84, Isaiah 30:1-17, “Trust in the Lord Pt I.”

A running theme in Isaiah is to trust in the Lord and not in man or nations, or unfruitful alliances. The verse found in Proverbs summarizes the theme.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

The theme, of course, applies to all of us. In times of stress or danger or dire circumstances, it is not always an easy thing to do. The old figure of speech, ‘grasp at straws’ is a desperate temptation. When threatened with military action by Ephraim and Syria, Judah sought help from Assyria. That proved disastrous. When threatened by Assyria, Judah sought help from Egypt. The prophet Isaiah warns them against false alliances and counsels them to trust in the Lord.

Isaiah 30:1-5

Woe to the rebellious children, saith the Lord, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin: That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt! Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion. For his princes were at Zoan, and his ambassadors came to Hanes. They were all ashamed of a people that could not profit them, nor be an help nor profit, but a shame, and also a reproach.

Seeking help from Egypt rather than from the Lord will be greater sin, causing confusion, shame, and reproach. In addition, Isaiah adds that it will cost them a fortune, but the money will all be spent in vain.

Isaiah 30:6-7

The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of trouble and anguish, from whence come the young and old lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they will carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the bunches of camels, to a people that shall not profit them. For the Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I cried concerning this, Their strength is to sit still.

Instead of help, they will find trouble and anguish. All they get out of Egypt will be the lion, the viper, and the fiery flying serpent. The Lion is a beast of prey. The image of the young lion suggests erratic fierceness. The image of the old lion suggests helplessness. It possibly refers to the kind of help they will get from the inexperienced princes of Egypt and the old guard who are past their prime. In other words, their help will be in vain. The viper refers to a deadly snake that paralyzes its victim. The fiery flying serpent is an image known only too well by the Hebrews.

Numbers 21:5-9

And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord, and against thee; pray unto the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.