Isaiah 20

Expectations in the LORD

Isa 20:1 In the year that Tartan came unto Ashdod (when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him,) and fought against Ashdod, and took it;

The Assyrians took the Philistine city of Ashdod.

Isa 20:2 At the same time spake the LORD by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, Go and loose the sackcloth from off thy loins, and put off thy shoe from thy foot. And he did so, walking naked and barefoot.
Isa 20:3 And the LORD said, Like as my servant Isaiah hath walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and wonder upon Egypt and upon Ethiopia;

The Lord had Isaiah walk naked and barefoot for three years, to illustrate the shame of Egypt and Ethiopia that would be taken captive. Judah was not to trust in them for help, but to trust in the LORD.

Isa 20:4 So shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptians prisoners, and the Ethiopians captives, young and old, naked and barefoot, even with their buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt.

Adam and Eve were the first to sin and to see nakedness as shame. Before this time they felt no shame.

Gen 2:25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

Jesus was naked on the cross, bearing our shame and sins for us. Now we must remain clothed in his righteousness, by faith. We overcome sin through Jesus. Not by our works, but by his. Trusting in Him, we walk as he walked by the power of the Holy Spirit, not in ourself, but through him.

Rev 3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

Isa 20:5 And they shall be afraid and ashamed of Ethiopia their expectation, and of Egypt their glory.

The people of Jacob looked to Egypt and to Ethiopia for help. God had already told them not to trust in them.

Isa 19:3 And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof; and I will destroy the counsel thereof: and they shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards.

Isa 20:6 And the inhabitant of this isle shall say in that day, Behold, such is our expectation, whither we flee for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria: and how shall we escape?

How shall we escape? The LORD allowed Judah to be backed into a corner, caught between two mighty Empires (Egypt and Assyria), without being able to trust either one. There was no escape - except in the LORD.

Deu 4:29 But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.

Psa 62:5 My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.
Psa 62:6 He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.

Isaiah 21
Isaiah 1 Table of Contents
Eaglewings Ministries
Eaglewings Journal