Isaiah

Isaiah 30: God calls rebels to return

Begin in prayer

Before Judah seeks help in Egypt, let us ask God to expose where we seek safety without Him. Pray that our family would hear His call to return and find mercy through Jesus Christ.

Surely I have stilled and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with his mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me.

Psalm 131:2

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Help us receive Your truth when we would prefer pleasant words. Lead us back from false confidence to the mercy found in Jesus. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Rebellious children carry treasure through dangerous country to seek Egypt’s help without asking God’s counsel. He calls that refuge useless and shameful, then has their refusal of His word written down. They demand pleasant deceit, trust oppression and perverseness, and face collapse like a broken wall or shattered pot. God offers salvation in returning and rest, but they refuse and choose swift horses that cannot outrun their pursuers. Yet the just LORD waits to show grace, hears His people’s cry and restores their teachers and guidance. They cast away idols, and He promises fruitful land and healing with light made brighter. His burning anger strikes Assyria while His people sing, and a great burning place is prepared for the king.

As you read Isaiah 30, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God judges the refuge His people choose and shows mercy to those who wait for Him.

Judah’s princes went to Zoan and Hanes, cities of Egypt, to buy help (verse 4). God calls Egypt “Rahab who sits still”, because its help would do nothing (verse 7). Demanding pleasant messages does not change His truth about their sin. Oppression and twisted dealings form part of the confidence He condemns. The bulging wall falls suddenly, and the pot breaks beyond any useful piece. His promise of returning and rest meets their refusal, so the horses chosen for escape lead only to flight. Grace remains His gift, given in His time to people who wait and cry to Him. His guidance accompanies affliction and leads them to throw away their gold and silver idols. Rain, abundant food and brighter light describe His healing, while fire and a prepared pyre declare His judgment on Assyria.

How does Isaiah 30 show us that God judges the refuge His people choose and shows mercy to those who wait for Him?

God condemns safety sought in rebellion.

The travelers spend treasure and cross dangerous country for an alliance made without God’s counsel. Egypt will bring shame instead of help. Their refusal also reaches the prophets, from whom they demand comforting falsehood.

God’s offer of rest calls for returning to Him.

They refuse quiet confidence in the LORD and choose the speed of horses. Their enemies will be swift as well. Flight will leave them isolated like a lone signal on a hill.

God’s mercy teaches His people to leave idols.

He answers their cry and gives teachers even amid adversity. The way He shows them leads to the rejection of their images. His healing brings plenty, while His voice and burning anger strike the Assyrian.

Memorise

You will be saved in returning and rest. Your strength will be in quietness and in confidence.

Isaiah 30:15

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, do I want pleasant words, or do I want to return to Jesus for mercy?

The people demand, “Tell us pleasant things. Prophesy deceits.” God calls them to returning and rest, yet they refuse. Their chosen refuge will fall. Still He promises mercy to those who wait for Him.

We also turn from unwelcome truth and seek safety while holding on to sin. Jesus took the death His rebellious people deserved at the cross. He rose from death with their redemption accomplished. His people’s debt is paid in full, and no frantic effort could add anything to it.

Turn from rebellion and return to God through faith in Jesus Christ. The sinner who returns to Him in faith is forgiven. Hear the truth you have tried to avoid and ask for His mercy. The Savior receives needy people and teaches them to walk in the way God gives.

Parent's note

Tell your children that God is gracious and waits to show mercy, and that Jesus saves all who return to Him. Please explain the burning judgment on the Assyrian in verses 27 to 33 soberly, beside God’s gracious promises. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that He calls rebels to return and shows mercy to those who wait for Him, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

He arose, and came to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

Luke 15:20

Lord, thank You for speaking truth and showing mercy to needy sinners. Please turn us from the false safety we choose and turn us to Jesus. Help us receive correction, leave our idols and walk in Your way. Help our family wait for You this week. Amen.