May 8, 2026, Isaiah 20:1-6
20 In the year that the commander in chief, who was sent
by Sargon the king of Assyria, came to Ashdod and fought against it and
captured it— 2 at that time the Lord spoke by Isaiah the son of
Amoz, saying, “Go, and loose the sackcloth from your waist and take off your
sandals from your feet,” and he did so, walking naked and barefoot.
3 Then the Lord said,
“As my servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot for three years as a
sign and a portent against Egypt and Cush, 4 so
shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptian captives and the Cushite
exiles, both the young and the old, naked and barefoot, with buttocks
uncovered, the nakedness of Egypt. 5 Then they
shall be dismayed and ashamed because of Cush their hope and of Egypt their
boast. 6 And the inhabitants of this coastland
will say in that day, ‘Behold, this is what has happened to those in whom we
hoped and to whom we fled for help to be delivered from the king of
Assyria! And we, how shall we escape?’”
Isaiah 20:1-6 describes a symbolic action where the
prophet Isaiah walks naked and barefoot for three years, signaling that Assyria
will shamefully lead away Egyptian and Ethiopian captives, demonstrating the
futility of Judah trusting in these nations for protection. This message, set
during Sargon II's campaign, urges reliance on God instead of foreign powers.
Isaiah's message was unpopular because it challenged the
national security strategy of the day. Is there a situation in your community
or workplace where you need the courage to speak a "difficult truth"
even if it goes against the common consensus?
Robin Adams
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