Monday, June 2, 2014

Isaiah 20:2

Copyright Ó 2014 J. Neely
Isaiah 20:2ues

2 At the same time [`eth] spake [dabar] the LORD [Yahovah] by [yad] Isaiah [Yasha`yah] the son [ben] of Amoz ['Amowts], saying ['amar], Go [yalak] and loose [pathach] the sackcloth [saq] from off thy loins [mothen], and put off [chalats] thy shoe [na`al] from thy foot [regel]. And he did so [`asah], walking [halak] naked [`arowm] and barefoot [yacheph].  KJV-Interlinear

2 at that time the Lord spoke through Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, "Go and loosen the sackcloth from your hips, and take your shoes off your feet." And he did so, going naked and barefoot.  NASB

The command to Isaiah came from God, that he loosen the lower clothing that he normally wore, and walk around partially naked.  The word for naked, ‘arown,’ means partial nakedness.  And given that this portrays the circumstances of prisoners who are led away as captives, they were not typically stripped totally naked, but their condition being captives is almost or near nakedness with torn or worn or abused clothing.

In any case, the dramatic display is often times necessary in order to get the attention of an otherwise indifferent or stubborn people.

And that is sad.  Because when people simply are not interested in the truth, or in following Gods way, then they become stubborn, or even reinforced in their stubbornness.  And when that occurs in the minds of people, then it takes a shock in order to get them to even begin to pay attention.

Note, that the most dramatic period in all of human history will occur in the Tribulation, when the shock to the entire world will be horrific, to say the least.

As for the rest of history, there are always those in every generation, that need to be shaken vigorously in order to get their attention, and even that does not work on most folks.

It is interesting that people who are negative toward God, will be picky on things of insignificance, whereas God and ones spiritual life should be of the utmost importance, and yet are relegated to the unimportant. A flip-flop of priorities.

What is the first thing that captors do to their captives? They remove their nice coat, shoes, watch, jewelry, wallet, etc.  And this is what is being portrayed.  The people will become captives and the things that are important to them, will be taken away, and taken away with ease.  Fight or resist and then what happens to the captive?  End of story!

So, the warning, is, ‘Depend on your treaties with Egypt and this is going to be your future.’

Follow the mandates of God and receive blessing.  Follow the plans of man and you will lose everything.

So, do you even know the plan of God and what is expected of you?