A Naked Hope
4/27/26 Bible Thought (Isaiah 20-21)
Main Idea: The only hope that will not disappoint is the living God.
A Look at the Text:
In today’s text, the scene shifts. While the previous chapter focused on a future blessedness for some of Israel’s neighbors as they turned to God, destruction was in the immediate future.
At this point in biblical history, Israel was conquered by Assyria (see 2 Kings 17). Now the Assyrians were marching against the Philistine city of Ashdod (Isa. 20:1). Assyria seemed unstoppable, and for quite some time, they were. Desperate times forced alliances between various nations as one people would depend upon another for their deliverance from this superpower.
This in mind, God tasked Isaiah with a very unusual mission—walking naked and barefoot for three years (Isa. 20:2-3).
This unusual prophetic sign was given to showcase what would happen to the Egyptians in short order. Just as God’s prophet went about with his backside bare, so would the Egyptian captives when the Assyrians were done with them.
This message was a warning to Judah, who might have been tempted to put their trust in neighboring nations for their deliverance. Instead, their hope was to rest in God alone. In fact, biblical history would later reveal that the Judean plight was resolved by a miraculous deliverance that only God could have accomplished (see 2 Kings 19).
The people of God might have been tempted to trust in weapons of war or mighty neighboring nations, but the only hope that wouldn’t disappoint would be the Lord Himself.
Bringing it Home:
Sadly, it can be very easy for God’s people to flee to any number of things for their help without even considering that God could solve their problems. At times, God will allow us to see the folly of our ways when these other things don’t work. This was the tale of the naked Egyptians, or what could also be called a naked hope.
Sometimes prayer is our last resort when it should really be our first stop. Seeking God should be the steering wheel of our lives, not the emergency brake. From ancient times even unto the present, it can be easy for people to exhaust every natural solution before divine help is sought.
Seeking God should be the steering wheel of our lives, not the emergency brake
Let this not be said of us. Instead, let us firstly and fully rely on the God who raises the dead (see 2 Cor. 1:9). Hardships should drive us to Him. While He may use any number of means to resolve our plight, let us never neglect to go to the Source of all help first.
We can trust that God is both sovereign and good. He is able to do as He pleases, and this same God cares for us (1 Pet. 5:7). If we, being evil, desire good things for our children, how much more does our Father in Heaven care for us? (see Matt. 7:11). If we have access to this God, why would we not take our cares to Him?
Challenge:
What is my first stop when hard times come knocking on my door?