Isaiah 30:15 (CSB)
For the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said: “You will be delivered by returning and resting; your strength will lie in quiet confidence. But you are not willing.”
The southern kingdom of Judah was facing aggression from the Assyrian Empire, who posed a military threat to Judah. God had spoken through the prophet Isaiah, saying that He would deliver Judah if they would turn back to Him and rest, to have trust in God and be still. God told Isaiah that Judah’s strength would lie in quiet confidence; faith, trust and reliance on God. But as the verse says, they were not willing to do as God asked them. Instead, they were panicking and being fearful. They looked instead to forming a political and military alliance with Egypt, which was never going to be successful. The alliance they were planning to form with Egypt was against the will of God. God warned Judah about forming an alliance with Egypt as it was putting their faith and trust in humans and armies instead of God their Creator. What they were planning would collapse and lead to defeat. The outcome of the alliance was, the Egyptians sent an army to the Assyrians but it failed to stop them. The Assyrians went on to destroy and capture 46 fortified cities and many villages in Judah. King Hezekiah of Judah finally turned back to God and God sent an angel of the Lord to strike down the Assyrian camp.
Dear God,
When we are facing difficult situations, we should put our trust in you God. Instead of panicking and being fearful, we should be still and at rest. By putting our trust in you God and relying on you, and not on human strength, you will deliver us from difficult situations we face. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
