Today you should read: Isaiah 20
To give some background to the situation in this passage, Ashdod is a Philistine city. Ashdod was relying on Egypt for protection from the Assyrian army, but as verse 1 shows, the Assyrians fought and captured Ashdod. In verses 2-3, God commands Isaiah to display this prophetic sign to the people. He is to walk around naked and barefoot. We find out in verses 4-5 that Isaiah is showing what will happen to the Egyptians and Cushites after their defeat from Assyria.
What can we take away from this passage? First, Isaiah was obedient to the Lord. Isaiah was willing to do what the Lord had commanded him, even if that means to walk around naked for 3 years (hopefully God won’t ask any of us to do that). In the same way, we, who are believers in Christ, should have the same mindset as Isaiah. God may call us to do something radical and we have to be obedient to follow His calling.
Secondly, the passage ends with a question: “And we, how shall we escape?” In verse 6, the “inhabitants of the coastland” had put their trust in Egypt and Cush for deliverance, and they saw the demise of both nations. These inhabitants had trusted in the things of this world for protection, and now their trust and hope was lost. Many people do this in the world today. Their trust and hope are in materials, relationships, money, and other worldly things. Isaiah’s answer to, “How shall we escape?” is to look towards the Lord for deliverance. Thankfully for us, Jesus has delivered everyone who has believed in Him. We do not have to walk in spiritual nakedness, but instead can be clothed with His righteousness.
By: Brice Stockton — Student Ministry Apprentice
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