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ISAIAH: GOD'S DIRECTIVES TO THOSE TROUBLED AT GOVERNMENTAL APOSTASY
Part XXI: God's Salvation From The Discouragement Of The Flagrant Rebellion In Others
(Isaiah 30:1-33)
  1. Introduction
    1. As a believer who may see unsaved friends or even carnal believers strongly resisting the truth of God, we can be tempted to give up serving as God's heralds to His Word.
    2. Isaiah faced the same challenge in his era, and God ministered to encourage him as follows:
  2. God's Salvation From The Discouragement Of The Flagrant Rebellion In Others, Isaiah 30:1-33.
    1. Through the prophet, Isaiah, God pronounced a judgment "woe" on the land of Judah, Isaiah 30:1-5:
      1. Judah's leaders sought to make a treaty with Egypt for purposes of national defense, Isaiah 30:1-2a.
      2. However, since this was sinful in violation of Moses' command at Deuteronomy 17:16, God led Isaiah to announce judgment on the nation for its rebellion against Him, Isaiah 30:1-5.
    2. In that announcement, God showed how Egypt was not able to protect Judah though she tried hard to gain Egypt's help by facing "hardship" in sending enjoys to Egypt, 30:6-7; Bible Know. Com., O.T., p. 1080.
    3. However, since Judah was rebellious and not willing to accept this message from God, the Lord had Isaiah write down this oracle in hope just for the record, Isaiah 30:8-11.
    4. God then gave Isaiah insight into Judah's future to encourage him (as follows), Isaiah 30:12-26:
      1. Since Judah was so rebellious against God, the nation would experience God's punishment, 30:12-17:
        1. Like a wall that is designed to protect people but which develops a crack and ends up falling on the people to their great harm, so Judah's rebellion would backfire in divine judgment, Isaiah 30:12-14.
        2. Isaiah then described how this would happen: (a) God had offered Judah rest and confidence were she not seek protection by sending envoys to Egypt, Isaiah 30:15. (b) However, Judah sought refuge from Egypt anyway, 30:16. (c) In discipline, this effort to seek refuge from Egypt's horses in direct violation of Deuteronomy 17:16 would backfire, and the people of Judah would end up terrified in military defeat versus the rest and confidence they would have found in the Lord, Isaiah 30:17.
      2. Nevertheless, in the end, God claimed He would save the nation of Judah when, in its duress of trials in divine discipline, it cried out to God for help, Isaiah 30:18-26:
        1. In spite of Judah's rebellion, the Lord still wanted to show compassion on His people, Isa. 30:18.
        2. Thus, when the judgment finally fell on Judah, and the people of God cried out to God for help, the infinite grace of God would come into focus and God would save those who repented, Isa. 30:19.
        3. Consequently, God's blessing upon Judah would be realized, Isaiah 30:20-26: (a) God would provide teachers when the people of Judah were willing to listen to His Word, Isaiah 30:20-21. (b) He would joy in the turning of the people of Judah from their idols to seek help in Himself, 30:22. (c) In keeping with His covenant with them, God would then produce abundant agricultural blessings for the nation, Isaiah 30:23-26 and Deuteronomy 28:1-14.
      3. Then, in view of this coming repentance, God promised to destroy the nation of Assyria the people of Judah then feared, a nation God would use to punish Isaiah's contemporaries, Isaiah 30:27-33.
Lesson: God can afford to be much more OPTIMISTIC about the discouraging appearance of people who exhibit rebellion against His truth, for HE, unlike WE knows who will finally repent! God then gives us hints of future blessings as a glimpse of the OPTIMISTIC end of the discipling process so that we who SERVE as God's MESSENGERS will be encouraged not to give up testifying of God's truths.

Application: To respond well as God's witness of His truth before those unbelievers or even carnal believers who currently rebel against it, (1) we should consider how INFINITELY patient and loving is God Who works LONG after we would give up on others, and REST in the fact that HE -- not WE -- know the final outcome! (2) Then, as God knows the future victories of faith, WE SHOULD KEEP STANDING AND HERALDING GOD'S TRUTH REGARDLESS OF WHAT WE SEE THAT MAY DISCOURAGE US TO THE CONTRARY! (3) Recall the current landscape (Assyria's threat in Isaiah's day that would be destroyed by God) is NOT the FINAL or ULTIMATE one, so we must not prejudge the effectiveness of our efforts or ministries, but just fully follow God in serving in His will!