Where do you go when everything seems to go wrong? Who do you turn to when suffering threatens to break you? Where do you find your peace? These are all pertinent questions that we have all grappled with. Suffering is inevitable. We will never escape suffering so long as we are in these earthly bodies; as Paul wrote to the Romans, “We are at constant war with our flesh” (Romans 7:22-23). So, when all is said and done, what is your hope in life and death? Do you go to the world for answers? Do you lean on your own understanding, thinking you can save yourself? Or do you entrust yourself to God?
In Isaiah 28:14-22, God, through Isaiah, is pleading with the Hebrews not to entrust themselves to anyone else but himself. He warns that doing so will lead them to a covenant with death. He reminds them to remember the one who has proven himself sure, having been tested. This is what I hope to delve into, using Isaiah 28:14-22 to show you that we are to shun the comfort of death, for we are being built on the tested cornerstone.
Longing for Death
Isaiah 28:14 lays the groundwork for all that will be said. Isaiah primarily spoke to the Hebrews in Judah, specifically their rulers. He calls them scoffers. (A scoffer is one who, being wise in their own eyes, chooses to scorn God and his word.) These rulers, as Isaiah mentioned, had decided to make a covenant with death. Who is this death that Isaiah spoke of? While it might be general in this instance, he was speaking of a particular nation, Egypt (Isaiah 30:2). The country that had enslaved them was the nation they were choosing to make their bed with. There are good reasons why the Bible calls scoffers fools.
Because of foolishness, these people would rather turn to Egypt instead of turning to God. As we shall see, they had no reason to turn to Egypt, for God had already laid a foundation for them in Zion (Isaiah 28:16). The Puritans had a prayer in the Valley of Vision that speaks to how it is easy for us to long for Egypt. Our prayers can easily be in direct opposition to God’s will for our lives. They can be self-seeking instead of God-glorifying. Dear saint, how do you pray? Can you conclusively say that God is being glorified even when you are petitioning him? Or are your petitions selfish in nature?
Covenant with Death
We read that the Hebrew rulers had a covenant with death and Sheol. The deal was that by turning to Egypt, they would escape the wrath of the Assyrian army (the overwhelming whip). However, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Isaiah highlights that by making this deal, they had made lies their refuge and falsehood their home. Trusting Egypt was to their detriment, for instead of saving themselves, the same Assyrians they were hoping to escape would beat them down (Isaiah 28:18). Their covenant would be broken, for the nation they chose to place their trust in would be defeated.
Where are you seeking your salvation? If it is in anyone or anything else but Christ, then woe to you. Are you seeking it in government? You are in for a rude awakening. Are you seeking it in frail human beings? It is guaranteed that those men will disappoint you (Jeremiah 17:5). Are you seeking it in yourself? You will fail miserably, for your heart is deceitfully wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). None of these means will stop the scourge of God.
The Tested Cornerstone
Yahweh directly speaks to the scoffing rulers in Isaiah 28:16 and reminds them of who he has been to them. He reminds them that Judah wouldn’t exist if God didn’t lay a foundation. However, not just any foundation but one that is sure, for it has been tested. Think of all the wars that Zion had no chance of winning if Yahweh hadn’t fought their battles. David accurately declared to Goliath before killing him: “The battle is Yahweh’s” (1 Samuel 17:47). In Isaiah, we have an example of how Yahweh fought for his people against the Assyrians (Isaiah 36:1-37:38). With Egypt, the Assyrians would sweep and overwhelm them (Isaiah 28:2, 17). However, with God, none of their soldiers had to lift a sword, for the Lord indeed fought for them (Isaiah 37:36).
For us, Isaiah 28:16 is more than just looking at the past and learning from it. It also speaks to the reality we live in. Peter, quoting Isaiah 28:16 in 1 Peter 2:6, shows us that Jesus is our precious cornerstone. He is a cornerstone that was tested in every way, and yet no sin was found in him (Hebrews 4:14). Therefore, on account of him, we have a sure foundation. Being set on him means that we are part of an unshakable fortress (Hebrews 12:26-29). We will neither stumble nor fall, for we are his chosen ones, those that he holds fast (1 Peter 2:9-10, Hebrews 10:23).
Dear saint, there’s no reason for you to run to ‘Egypt’ when, in Christ, you have everything you need. Don’t be like the Hebrews who had the sure foundation right in front of them and chose otherwise.
Judgment on Those Who Seek Death
As for you who has been rejecting God’s gentle yet urgent call, turn to Jesus today before it is too late; this was Isaiah’s plea to the scoffers. His plea to them was that they stop scoffing (Isaiah 28:22). Instead of being haughty, Isaiah urged them to entrust themselves to Yahweh (Isaiah 28:16). As he continued in Isaiah 28:22, he warned that if they didn’t change their ways, then their chains would only get stronger. Additionally, there is also the looming destruction that God promises. For the Hebrews, their judgment meant falling into the hands of the Assyrians (Isaiah 28:17-20). However, for the scoffers of today, you will fall into God’s hands. You would be damned if you fell into the hands of the living God (Hebrews 10:31). Therefore, repent while you still have time. If you’d like to learn more about this, please click here.
Remember, Isaiah 28:14-22 is written to God’s people. Isaiah told them that God would rise in the place of their former victories and discipline them (Isaiah 28:21, cf. 2 Samuel 5:19-20, Joshua 10:10). Strange as it may seem, God does discipline those he loves (Hebrews 12:5-11). As was once mentioned, God is more committed to our holiness than we are. Hence, let’s honor God by striving to abide in him as he has called us to be in John 15:4-7. He has promised to guide us home, despite our resistance, just as he did with Lot (Romans 8:31-39). However, no matter how weak we get, we must hold fast to him. Let us resist the temptation to look anywhere else, except to his Son, Jesus, our sure foundation and tested cornerstone.