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Isaiah 19 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
What do we use to replace God in our lives? It’s really a thought-provoking question. The temptation is to brush it aside, or minimize it. But when given proper thought, and approached with humility, we will most likely find an idol that we don’t want to address.
Though Israel had been enslaved by Egypt years before, they were tempted to seek refuge there, as the Assyrians continued to grow into an unstoppable force. Israel feared Assyria more than Egypt, so they wanted to compromise – even if it meant siding with the dreaded Egyptians. It’s silly when you think about it. The temptation was to put their trust in the lesser of two evils. The real question is – does God put us in situations where we have to choose between evil and evil?
I have thought about this before when choosing between political candidates. Do I have to choose the lesser of two evils? Maybe you have thought the same thing? I have also been in situations of temptation and emotional pain where it seems that choosing a lesser evil is the best way to cope. We know what God’s Word says, but we fear the uncertain… so we settle for the immediate.
God reminds Israel that Egypt is in the palm of His hand. There is nothing that will come to pass that isn’t filtered through this fingers. To answer my own questions above, I don’t believe God makes us choose between evil and evil. Through faith, we can always choose what brings glory to God. The reason for this is because the Bible consistently presents a moral ethic with which to live our lives. For the early Christians, that decision meant death. For us today, it may mean death of our flesh.
Killing our sinful ways is tough business, but if we have the power that raised Christ from the dead, we are empowered to choose His way instead of what makes sense to the world. Common sense, logic, and popularity all pale in comparison to faith in God.