Isaiah 31:1-9

Isaiah: God controls the nations

God defends *Jerusalem

Isaiah Chapter s 31 to 39

Norman Hillyer

Chapter 31

Numbers are not everything

v1 *Woe to people who are appealing to Egypt for help! They are putting their trust in Egypt’s horses. They are putting their trust in Egypt’s *chariots because Egypt possesses vast numbers of them. And they are putting their trust in Egypt’s horsemen because they are so strong. But my people do not trust the Holy God of Israel. They will not ask him to help them. v2 You people think that you are very clever. And that what you are doing is right. But the *Lord is wiser than you are. He knows what it is best to do. If his people refuse to listen to him, the *Lord will bring great trouble. He will carry out his promise to punish evil people. And he will punish those who may help evil people. v3 *Egyptians are only people. They are not gods. Their horses have ordinary physical bodies. They have not come from another world. The *Lord’s action will *destroy both the human helper and the person who receives help.