The Misery of Unrepentant Sin – Isaiah 30

Sin never travels alone. It brings difficulties we can never overcome on our own, as much as we may try. God knows these difficulties and His word warns us about them. We see these warnings especially clearly in Isaiah 28–35. He repeatedly warns Judah, Israel, and the nations about the disaster that comes from sin:

• 28:1 “Woe to the proud crown of the drunkards of Ephraim”
• 29:1 “Woe, O Ariel, Ariel the city where David once camped”
• 29:15 “Woe to those who deeply hide their counsel from Yahweh”
• 30:1 “Woe to the rebellious children”
• 31:1 “Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help”
• 33:1 “Woe to you, O destroyer”

The Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament describes this word for “woe” as a “grievous threatening cry of the prophets”. Yahweh graciously brings such threats so sinners can repent and believe in Him.

What sin is God singling out in chapter 30? His people in the southern kingdom, known as Judah, have chosen to “make an alliance, but not of My Spirit” (30:1a). As they prepared for the Assyrians’ attack in 701 BC, they had a choice: depend on Yahweh or Egypt.

They chose poorly.

In verses 1–5 we see Judah ignores its Covenant Lord and seeks help from Egypt, “in order to add sin to sin” (1b). The people turn to Egypt for help, only having to pay money, rather than Yahweh, who requires their repentance, trust, and rest in Him. In reply, He promises their alliance will bring them even more shame and reproach (3–5).

Making this alliance with Egypt isn’t an easy task. In verses 6–11, Judah sends its wealth on the backs of donkeys and camels to Egypt through a dangerous wilderness of lions and snakes (6). Judah also engages in a domestic propaganda campaign, silencing Yahweh’s prophets and demanding they speak “pleasant words” and “visions of illusions” (9–11). 

This kind of manipulation is necessary when people embrace sin while keeping a pious veneer. But it can’t stop God’s perfect judgment.

So as Egypt fails them, verses 12–17 show God warning Judah He will soon shatter it through Assyria. He will save them only if they repent and rest quietly and trustingly in Him (15). But since the people try to flee on horses, God has their enemies hunt them down until only a few are left on a solitary hill (16–17), likely Jerusalem (19).

Once one chooses the foolish path of chasing desires, it becomes necessary to rationalize more and more folly to keep the dream alive.

Despite all Judah’s striving, verses 18–26 show Yahweh waiting “on high” for them to turn back to Him. He elaborates beautifully on the salvation He plans to give:

• He will personally appear to them as a teacher to guide them (20–21)
• His presence and teaching will lead them to abandon their graven and molten images (22)
• He will bring rain, pasture, and fodder for their flocks when He defeats their enemies (23–25)
• He will also bring abundant light in the sky and healing for His people (26)

If you read the story of God’s defeat of the Assyrians in Isaiah 36–37, you won’t see these four promises fulfilled. Yes, King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah personally sought Yahweh’s help (2 Kings 19:14–19; Isaiah 37:14–20; 2 Chronicles 32:20). Yes, we see the royal officials tear their clothes and wear sackcloth, signifying mourning, and perhaps repentance (2 Kings 18:37; 19:2; Isaiah 36:22; 37:2).

In 701 BC, God graciously granted Judah supernatural deliverance, but we don’t see the national repentance He requires in verses 15–19, the national restoration He promises in verses 20–26, or the complete destruction of the world’s armies He promises in verses 27–33.

Even in the time of the siege, the people partied when they should have been mourning sin (Isaiah 22:12–14). Within two decades, the wicked King Manasseh began to reign, leading Judah into nearly every kind of sin and idolatry (2 Kings 21:1–9). 

But one day in the future, when Judah repents corporately and sincerely, Yahweh will bring His wrath against the armies of the nations gathered against it, as we see in verses 27–33. Special emphasis is placed on the power of His voice: “His tongue is like a consuming fire” (27), “His breath is like an overflowing torrent” (28), “Yahweh will cause His splendid voice to be heard” (30), “at the voice of Yahweh, Assyria will be dismayed” (31), and “the breath of Yahweh, like a torrent of brimstone, sets it afire” (33).

After all Judah’s pursuit of its sinful path, God still promises to immediately respond to the nation’s repentance. Even the wicked King Manasseh illustrates this restoration by repenting after decades of idolatry and sin and then enjoying God’s restoration to his throne (2 Chronicles 33:12–13).

If you find yourself in a difficult pattern of sin, call out to Him. Don’t keep following sin down its destructive path. Remember God’s forgiving disposition, shown to Judah in verse 19: “He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when He hears it, He will answer you.” He is no less gracious to us.

Pastor David