Isaiah
31 reminds me of Linus from the old Peanuts comic strip. He always
had his blanket in hand no matter what the activity. It was his
security, his comfort and his protection. I noticed something that I
believe was very intentional in the 1965 animated special. In the
famous scene when Linus is explaining to Charlie Brown the Real
Meaning of Christmas, Linus willingly put down his blanket as he
quoted from Luke chapter 2. “Do
not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy
which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in
the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will
be the sign to you: You will
find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger“.
In today’s chapter Isaiah continues his warning to Judah for
their misplaced trust. “Woe to
those who go down to Egypt for help… who trust in the multitude of
their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do
not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the LORD”
In times of trouble, they turned to Egypt, rather than the Lord.
Isaiah continues, “Egyptians
are mere mortals… flesh
and not spirit“. Many of us
have our own security blanket; the thing we hold on to, or go back to
in times difficulty. To some it is the security of finances, to some
an old relationship and to some it is an old comfort. Friend, what
is your security blanket?
Isaiah
explains that some of the things that seem secure today will not
always be. “When the LORD
stretches out His hand, those who help will stumble, those who are
helped will fall; all will perish together“.
Isaiah offers this promise, “the
LORD Almighty will shield Jerusalem; He will shield it and deliver
it, He will ‘pass over’ it and will rescue it“.
Maybe you are saying, “What does that have to do with me?” Do
not be mistaken, the Gospel was first given to the Jews. Jesus gave
instruction to the apostles, “Do
not go among the Gentiles… Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel…
Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive
out demons. Freely you have received; freely give”
(Matt 10:5-7). It was only after they rejected Jesus that the good
news was given to the Gentiles. Galatians 3 explains that we are
God’s back up plan! “So in
Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith…There is
neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free… for you are all
one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s
seed, and heirs according to the promise“.
God jealously guards over you, “As…
a great lion over its prey“.
Have
you been distracted by circumstances? “Return,
you Israelites, to the One you have so greatly revolted against“.
Isaiah calls to “reject the
idols of silver and gold your sinful hands have made“.
Isaiah predicted that the mighty army of “Assyria
will fall by no human sword… They will flee… because of terror;
at the sight of the battle
standard“. What is the
banner? What is it that gives security, comfort and protection? The
Holy Spirit of God is our comforter and the fulfillment of God’s
promise of forgiveness. Are you willing to put down your blanket?
Please, don’t be a blockhead.