I’ve always loved Isaiah 30. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve studied this chapter, yet the Spirit continually brings me back here, as to a favorite, well-loved spot. The imagery Isaiah uses to rebuke God’s running people is memorable and convicting, especially to a heart prone to feverish activity and idolatry.
Running to False Refuge
Isaiah calls out God’s frantic people who are bent on running back to Egypt for help and refuge. In one sense, you cannot blame them: Egypt was powerful, boasting resources and historic strength. God’s people have always struggled to trust an unseen source. In their infancy as a people, they smelted a statue that could be seen. In their “teenage years” as a people, they demanded to have a human king that they could see so they could be like everyone else. And now that they are a divided people on the verge of exile, the same stubborn pattern remains. They wanted physical help from what seemed to be a strong refuge.
In his prophesy, Isaiah tells them how foolish they look as they load their treasures on the backs of camels to head through a land of danger (lions, lionesses, adders, tight places) to a people who would not profit them (Isaiah 30: 6). Initially, I chuckle at the idiocy of their attempt — until I realize I am them.
I constantly look for places of refuge, security, safety, protection, and profit. Sure, I don’t physically load up a camel and venture to Egypt, but I do so proverbially all the time. I load up my hopes and quickly flee to would-be refuges: publishers, teams, organizations, opportunities, people, vacations, and the like.
The whole thrust of this chapter is a God who says, ”In returning and rest you will be saved; in quietness and trust shall be your strength” and a people who say, “No! We will flee” (Isaiah 30:15). Through Isaiah, God uses all the strength of vocabulary and imagery to warn his people that their bent to run to false saviors will not only not profit them, but will harm them (Isaiah 30: 3–5).
Rahab who Sits Still and a Redeemer who Runs
This week, what struck me was the name God gives Egypt (and our current collections of false saviors): “Rahab who sits still” (Isaiah 30: 7). The Hebrew word for “sits still” literally means “to sit indolently or proudly.” Even as we run to false saviors, they don’t move towards our help: they sit haughtily and powerlessly.
Juxtaposed with Rahab who sits still is our Redeemer who runs to us. In the incarnation, the Second Person of the Trinity comes to us, moves towards us in an unthinkable condescension on an unbelievable rescue mission. Though we keep running to false refuges and refusing to return to him, he came to seek and to save us (Luke 19: 10).
Earlier in his gospel, Luke records the parable Jesus told concerning the lavish forgiveness and love of God. The prodigal son, having blown his money and bottomed out, comes to himself and heads home. Upon his return, the father is not sitting on his property with arms crossed and a ledger of the losses he has incurred at the expense of his rebellious son. Instead, “while he was still a long way off, his fathers aw him and felt compassion and ran and embraced him and kissed him” (Luke 16: 20).
In Isaiah 30, we see a similar response from God. Though his people are actively running towards Rahabs who sit still, he longs and waits to show compassion on them:
“Therefore, the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you” (Isaiah 30: 18).
The picture that comes to mind is a damn storing up the potential energy of God’s love until it is released in the Redeemer.
May the Holy Spirit show you this week when you are acting like Israel, loading up your camels to flee to false refuges. May the Spirit invite you to return and rest in the Redeemer who runs towards you.
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