In the year that Tartan came unto Ashdod, (when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him,) and fought against Ashdod, and took it;
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.
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;
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.
And they shall be afraid and ashamed of Ethiopia their expectation, and of Egypt their glory.
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?
Isaiah 20 concludes the oracle against Egypt, which began in Isaiah 19, and presents a powerful object lesson for Judah. It's a stark warning against placing their trust in earthly powers, specifically Egypt and Cush (ancient Ethiopia), for protection from the looming threat of Assyria. God uses the prophet Isaiah himself as a living sign to demonstrate the futility of relying on anything other than the Lord.
The Fall of Ashdod: A Prelude to Disaster (Isaiah 20:1)
The chapter opens with a historical event: the Assyrian King Sargon II's commander-in-chief (the tartān) captures Ashdod, a Philistine city. This occurred around 711 BC, a fact corroborated by Assyrian records and archaeological discoveries in Ashdod. Ashdod had formed an alliance with Egypt, hoping for protection against Assyria and ceasing to pay tribute. However, when Assyria attacked, Egypt was nowhere to be found. This event serves as a crucial backdrop, highlighting Egypt's inability to defend its allies.
Isaiah's Symbolic Act: A Picture of Captivity (Isaiah 20:2-4)
God commands Isaiah to remove his sackcloth, a garment of mourning and humility, and his sandals, and to walk around "uncovered" or "naked." The Hebrew word arom doesn't necessarily mean complete nudity, but rather a state of shame and humiliation. It's likely Isaiah wore a loincloth, but the point was his vulnerable and undignified appearance. This wasn't a brief act; it lasted for three years, a constant visual reminder to the people.
The purpose of this unusual command is then revealed: Isaiah's state foreshadows the fate of Egyptian and Cushite captives when Assyria defeats them. They too will be stripped bare, humiliated, and marched into exile. This was a common practice in that era, designed to break the spirit of the defeated and maintain control.
The Lament of the Coastland Dwellers (Isaiah 20:5-6)
The impending reality of Assyrian conquest causes those who had placed their hope in Egypt to despair. The "inhabitants of the coastland," those who relied on Egypt's might, will be dismayed and ashamed. They will question their chances of escape and realize the emptiness of their reliance on a failing power. Their boasting in Egypt's strength will turn to bitter disappointment.
The Central Message: Trust in the Lord Alone
The core message of Isaiah 20 is a warning against misplaced trust. Judah was tempted to form alliances with Egypt and Cush to counter the Assyrian threat. However, God, through Isaiah's symbolic act and prophetic words, makes it clear that these foreign powers are unreliable. Their only true protection lies in the Lord.
This chapter serves as a powerful reminder that relying on human strength, political alliances, or material resources is ultimately futile. True security and hope are found only in trusting God, regardless of the circumstances. As Tony Evans aptly puts it, "Rely on God, and you have nothing to fear—regardless of the outcome. Rely on man, and you have everything to lose—regardless of the promise." Judah's failure to heed this warning led to devastating consequences, a lesson that remains relevant for us today. We must examine where we place our trust and ensure that it is firmly rooted in the unwavering power and faithfulness of God.
In the year that Tartan came unto Ashdod, (when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him,) and fought against Ashdod, and took it;
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.
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;
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.
And they shall be afraid and ashamed of Ethiopia their expectation, and of Egypt their glory.
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?
Isaiah 20 concludes the oracle against Egypt, which began in Isaiah 19, and presents a powerful object lesson for Judah. It's a stark warning against placing their trust in earthly powers, specifically Egypt and Cush (ancient Ethiopia), for protection from the looming threat of Assyria. God uses the prophet Isaiah himself as a living sign to demonstrate the futility of relying on anything other than the Lord.
The Fall of Ashdod: A Prelude to Disaster (Isaiah 20:1)
The chapter opens with a historical event: the Assyrian King Sargon II's commander-in-chief (the tartān) captures Ashdod, a Philistine city. This occurred around 711 BC, a fact corroborated by Assyrian records and archaeological discoveries in Ashdod. Ashdod had formed an alliance with Egypt, hoping for protection against Assyria and ceasing to pay tribute. However, when Assyria attacked, Egypt was nowhere to be found. This event serves as a crucial backdrop, highlighting Egypt's inability to defend its allies.
Isaiah's Symbolic Act: A Picture of Captivity (Isaiah 20:2-4)
God commands Isaiah to remove his sackcloth, a garment of mourning and humility, and his sandals, and to walk around "uncovered" or "naked." The Hebrew word arom doesn't necessarily mean complete nudity, but rather a state of shame and humiliation. It's likely Isaiah wore a loincloth, but the point was his vulnerable and undignified appearance. This wasn't a brief act; it lasted for three years, a constant visual reminder to the people.
The purpose of this unusual command is then revealed: Isaiah's state foreshadows the fate of Egyptian and Cushite captives when Assyria defeats them. They too will be stripped bare, humiliated, and marched into exile. This was a common practice in that era, designed to break the spirit of the defeated and maintain control.
The Lament of the Coastland Dwellers (Isaiah 20:5-6)
The impending reality of Assyrian conquest causes those who had placed their hope in Egypt to despair. The "inhabitants of the coastland," those who relied on Egypt's might, will be dismayed and ashamed. They will question their chances of escape and realize the emptiness of their reliance on a failing power. Their boasting in Egypt's strength will turn to bitter disappointment.
The Central Message: Trust in the Lord Alone
The core message of Isaiah 20 is a warning against misplaced trust. Judah was tempted to form alliances with Egypt and Cush to counter the Assyrian threat. However, God, through Isaiah's symbolic act and prophetic words, makes it clear that these foreign powers are unreliable. Their only true protection lies in the Lord.
This chapter serves as a powerful reminder that relying on human strength, political alliances, or material resources is ultimately futile. True security and hope are found only in trusting God, regardless of the circumstances. As Tony Evans aptly puts it, "Rely on God, and you have nothing to fear—regardless of the outcome. Rely on man, and you have everything to lose—regardless of the promise." Judah's failure to heed this warning led to devastating consequences, a lesson that remains relevant for us today. We must examine where we place our trust and ensure that it is firmly rooted in the unwavering power and faithfulness of God.