“See what has happened to them!”

(6) “In that day the people who live on this coast will say, ‘See what has happened to those we relied on, those we fled to for help and deliverance from the king of Assyria! How then can we escape?' ”

God gave Isaiah a very peculiar command today. He told him to take off the sackcloth from his waist and remove sandals. Isaiah did as he was told and walked around naked and barefoot. There was a special reason why God was asking Isaiah to live like this for three years. It was an act symbolizing disgrace and humiliation. God said to Isaiah that this was a sign and forewarning concerning Egypt and Cush. In that day, those who trusted in Cush and boasted in Egypt will be ashamed because they were counting on Egypt to protect them from Assyria.

Today’s passage shows that there is a time when the man of God is called to act in obedience to the word of God. And Isaiah did so, living this way for three years. It would be easy to guess the shame he had felt because of his appearance. This story teaches us that we must surrender our feelings and wills when God called us to obey orders for His mission. Today Isaiah showed us how to surrender his will and emotion to be obedient even if it meant humiliation. And the message he sent out was that we have got to know that anybody who relies on the men instead of God would be put to shame. We must have the wisdom to be able to see the end for those who trust in human strength. So I need to try my best to find out what stands in the way of obedience to God’s will. In response to this message, today I will take extra times to reflect on myself if I have been trusting in my efforts rather than in the Lord.