Returning to Egypt Ahaz, a wicked king in Judah. Baal worship, sacrificed sons as burnt offerings. Rampant idolatry. Out of the North, God sent Arameans and Israel against him in battle. 120,000 killed in one battle. (Twice the U.S. dead in 10 years of Vietnam) Takes silver and gold out of the Temple to send to Tiglath-Pileser, king of Assyria to bribe him to help. Assyrians come but impose taxes on him. Out of the SE, Edomites and from the SW, Philistines invade Judah. Ahaz travels to Damascus to meet the king of Assyria and sees an altar he likes. He commands Urijah the priest to build one like it in Jerusalem and sacrifices to the gods of Damascus and closed the doors to the house of God. Isaiah is faithfully serving God during this time. He is sent with a prophecy of the com ing destruction of Israel during the reign of Ahaz. Isaiah 8:1-8 Not only will Damascus and Samaria be captured, the Assyrians will come to Jerusalem as a flood up to the neck. Isaiah 10:28-34 Another hint of what is coming. Assyria is coming against them. They will get to nearby towns. the furthest mentioned - Aiath (Ai?) is 15 miles. Nob (vs 32) is only 2 miles from Jerusalem. Jerusalem will be threatened, but God will bring them down (10:32-33). Isaiah 14:24-25 God is going to break Assyria in His mountains. Ahaz dies - Isaiah 14:28 - Hezekiah becomes king. Hezekiah is a good king. 2 Chronicles 29:3 In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of the house of the Lord and repaired them. Great reforms recorded in 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles. Yet, prophecy of trouble that is still coming. Isaiah 29:1-5 Why, after all of the reforms? Isaiah 29:13 Therefore the Lord said: "Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but have removed their hearts far from Me, and their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men. Assyria is rising in power. There have been predictions that they will come to Jerusalem. They have already captured the 10 northern tribes. What will the men of Judah do? Instead of trusting Jehovah, they run to Egypt for help! Isaiah 30:1-5 What Israel Has Done in the Past 1. They wanted to return after the report of the Spies. Numbers 13:33-14:4 There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight." 1 So all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and the people wept that night. And all the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, "If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness! Why has the LORD brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?" So they said to one another, "Let us select a leader and return to Egypt." 2. God's Law concerning Israel's King Deuteronomy 17:16 But he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, for the Lord has said to you, 'You shall not return that way again.' a. Failure to Obey Began With the Compromise of Solomon 1 Kings 10:28-11:2 Also Solomon had horses imported from Egypt and Keveh; the king's merchants bought them in Keveh at the current price. Now a chariot that was imported from Egypt cost six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse one hun dred and fifty; and thus, through their agents, they exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Syria. 1 But King Solomon loved many foreign women, as well as the daughter of Pharaoh: women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites -- from the nations of whom the Lord had said to the children of Israel, "You shall not intermarry with them, nor they with you. Surely they will turn away your hearts after their gods." Solomon clung to these in love. 3. Hoshea, the last king of Israel tried going to Egypt for help 2 Kings 17:3-6 Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against him; and Hoshea became his vassal, and paid him tribute money. And the king of Assyria uncovered a conspiracy by Hoshea; for he had sent messengers to So, king of Egypt, and brought no tribute to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year. Therefore the king of Assyria shut him up, and bound him in prison. Now the king of Assyria went throughout all the land, and went up to Samaria and besieged it for three years. In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria took Samaria and carried Israel away to Assyria, and placed them in Halah and by the Habor, the River of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes. Present (During the time of Isaiah) Isaiah 19 - Egypt is going to fall under God's judgment and be destroyed! How are they going to be able to help? The Jews during the reign of Hezekiah tried to go to Egypt for help anyway! Isaiah 31:1-3 Future 1. During the reign of Josiah, Judah again tried to God to Egypt for help Jeremiah 2:18-19, 2:32-37 2. Zedekiah rebelled against Babylon. Ezekiel delivers a parable of two eagles and explains it - Ezekiel 17:12-17 They were turning to one already defeated for help! Around 15 years earlier: 2 Kings 24:7 And the king of Egypt did not come out of his land anymore, for the king of Babylon had taken all that belonged to the king of Egypt from the Brook of Egypt to the River Euphrates. 3. Babylon captured Jerusalem, captured Zedekiah and put Gedaliah in charge in Zedekiah's place. Only the poorest were left in the land. Everyone else was deported to other countries. After Gedaliah was murdered, the Jews fled to Egypt for protection from the Babylonians: 2 Kings 25:25-26 But it happened in the seventh month that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the royal family, came with ten men and struck and killed Gedaliah, the Jews, as well as the Chaldeans who were with him at Mizpah. And all the people, small and great, and the captains of the armies, arose and went to Egypt; for they were afraid of the Chaldeans. Jeremiah warned them that God would protect them if they stayed. God warned them that they would be cursed if they did go to Egypt. Instead of trusting God to protect them from the Babylonians, they returned to Egypt. (Jer. 42-44) Egypt was a Failure Ezekiel 29:3 Speak, and say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, I am against you, O Pharaoh king of Egypt... Ezekiel 29:6-7 Then all the inhabitants of Egypt Shall know that I am the Lord, Because they have been a staff of reed to the house of Israel. When they took hold of you with the hand, You broke and tore all their shoulders; When they leaned on you, You broke and made all their backs quiver." Characteristics of Those Wanting to Return Back to Egypt 1. It was these rebels turning to Egypt who wanted the pleasant words, smooth things! Isaiah 30:9-11 That this is a rebellious people, Lying children, Children who will not hear the law of the Lord; Who say to the seers, "Do not see," And to the prophets, "Do not prophesy to us right things; Speak to us smooth things, prophesy deceits. Get out of the way, Turn aside from the path, Cause the Holy One of Israel To cease from before us." They refused to hear the truth. They just wanted to hear what made them feel good. 2. They Offered God Lip Service, But Not True Devotion Isaiah 29:13 Therefore the Lord said: "Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but have removed their hearts far from Me, and their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men. This is not talking about denominations! Jesus applies this to the Jews of His day. (They were turning to Rome for their help) Matthew 15:7-9 Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: "These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men." This applies to any generation who believe certain traditions and reject any efforts to show them the way of truth. The problem of Israel was continually trying to go back to the land of captivity to solve their problems instead of trusting in God as they should. None of us are tempted to but a plane ticket to Egypt every time trouble comes, but the principles still applies today for Christians. Like Israel, we have been freed from bondage. Not Egypt, but sin. We have been feed from the bondage of sin and the corruption of this world and are not to return. Hard for us to appreciate the pull back to Egypt for Israel when we look at modern day Egypt. Ancient Egypt was a wealthy nation. It had some of the greatest construction in the world. King Tut gave people a glimpse of the riches of Egypt that Moses turned down so he might suffer affliction with the people of God. Egypt was known for great learning. Alexandria developed into one of the culture centers of the ancient world and had one of the largest libraries in the world. The world today draws many who are children of God. Material goods glitter, great buildings, homes available in the world. Great universities with vast libraries filled with the knowledge of the world today, just as in Egypt. Looks so appealing, intelligent, sophisticated, But our Lord says do not return! Colossians 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. (KJV) Colossians 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. (NIV) There is much hollow and deceptive philosophy being taught today. Instead of turning to the world for answers, Christians must be turning to Christ for the answers. (5 vss before 2:8) Colossians 2:1-3 For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. We need the full assurance that Jesus Christ has the answers, not the hollow and vain philosophies of the world today. There are many self-help books and advice on living. 1. Marriage counselors. Why not trust in the Lord and follow His commands? This is too simplistic to many! They think we h to have a PhD's in the wisdom of the world to give "real" answers! These are the ones who want to be as sophisticated as Egypt. There is no trust in Jehovah that He can deal with any problem we might have in life. 2. How do you raise children? Read passages out of God's Word and see people make faces. Do we really understand where we are in the church when Christians make faces at God's Word because they have bought into the wisdom of Egypt? 3. Self-esteem movement something that became the rage of Egyptian thinking in our world in the 1970's. It ignores all the warnings of God's Word about the problems that come when people become focused on themselves. Lovers of self is first on the list of perilous times to come (2 Tim. 3:1f). Perilous times come when God's people no longer trust in their God but turn to Egypt for the answers to problems in their lives. 4. All positive Don't confront, don't correct. Not the Wisdom of God. God never allows that which is wrong to continue unopposed. If everyone is living as they should be, then you don't have to have correction, but until that time comes, we will constantly need it. To those wanting to return to Egypt: Isaiah 30:15-16 For thus the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel has said, In repentance and rest you shall be saved, In quietness and trust is your strength." But you were not willing, and you said "No, for we will flee on horses," therefore you shall flee! (NASV) They had to be confronted of their error before they could repent to be saved from destruction! but they still refused. Those who want only the smooth things, pleasant words were confronted with the truth, they became the prophets most bitter adversaries. The same is true today. 5. Fashions of the World. Returning to Egypt instead of the Lord for their standards of true beauty. 1 Timothy 2:9-10 in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works. 1 Peter 3:1-6 Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. 3 Do not let your adornment be merely outward -- arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel -- 4 rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. 5 For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror. Instead of this as the standard, many dress and act just like the world. When Christians turn to Egypt, you have a soft, undisciplined church with no standards. Everyone is feeling good about themselves, but no one is right before God. 14th year of Hezekiah, Assyrians invaded the land. Captured 46 cities. Fighting against Lachish when Sennacherib sends word to Hezekiah - Isaiah 36:1-2 1. Assyria has come in the land like a flood up to the neck like Isaiah prophesied. 2. The land is devastated. 3. No one has been able to stand against the Assyrian armies. They have captured every city they come against. 46 cities have fallen. The people are scared. Running to Egypt for help. What is Hezekiah to do? Troubles are very real. Do you act like the rest of the world and run to Egypt or walk by faith and trust God? Hezekiah prays to God - Trusts in the Lord and the Lord delivers. That night (2 Kings 19:35) ...the angel of the Lord went out, and killed in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and eighty-five thousand; and when people arose early in the morning, there were the corpses -- all dead. If we were living in the days of Hezekiah, where would we have stood? They saw the Assyrian Army destroying the land, Serious problem! Many thought like the world. They thought, "here is a great military power. It needs to be opposed by military power." Let's run to Egypt for help! Hezekiah and Isaiah saw Assyrian army destroying the land, Serious problem! Rather than turning to Egypt for help, they turned to the Lord, and the enemy was destroyed. What do you do when you have problems in life, Trying to figure out what decisions you should make? 1. Do you run to the world to search for answers? Take their advice? 2. Or do you turn to Jehovah and trust the one who promised to give us all things that pertain to life and godliness? If there is anything in living life that is not covered in the Bible, then it is not God's Word. We need to study to find the answer, and be honest enough to accept the answer when we find it. One of the greatest problem of life is how do we live? No one gets out of this world alive. All are in bodies that will someday die. All the efforts of man to achieve unending life are and will continue to be a failure. God's Word provides the answer to the greatest question of life; how can I truly live? Wayne Wells wayneliz@twave.net http://users.twave.net/ncc