Isaiah 20:2-3

Isaiah 20 is a short chapter of 6 verses that is for a sign against Egypt and Ethiopia. THis time it is a short-term sign, which has already been fulfilled, and indeed, was fulfilled not very long after the prophecy was spoken. Both Egypt and Ethiopia are predicted to be taken off in chains by the Assyrians, thereby rendering other nations (especially Israel) helpless, as it says, because Egypt is the nation that all other nations seek to ally with in times of need. This is obviously a time of great upheaval in the populated world. In verse 2 we find God commanding Isaiah to perform a sign.

'"Go, and remove the sackcloth from your body, and take your sandals off your feet." And he did so, walking naked and barefoot.' (Isaiah 20:2)

MacArthur doesn't seem to think that 'walking naked' actually means naked as we would describe it, and I agree. For God only tells Isaiah to remove his sackcloth, which would have only been an outer garment. However, if it was or wasn't, either way evokes images of shame. Isaiah was commanded by God to do something shameful, or something would inevitably bring him shame and pain (not wearing sandals).

Likewise, God has commanded us to endure pain and shame in His name., as a general rule, and sometimes more specifically. 'And whoever does not bear his cross and come after me cannot be My disciple' (Luke 14:27) This is a general rule. If we are not wiling to suffer shame and pain (which is what the cross connoted) then we are not true followers of Christ. However, sometimes God's plan for us more specifically puts us in danger and gives us pain, whether emotional or physical. One of the leaders at the conference was recently at Korea at a massive 'Campus Crusade for Christ' meeting with many people from all around the world. He talked to a Palestinian Christian who told him that life was a little tough over there. The leader asked him what type of things happened, what he meant by a 'little tough'. The reply was, a few days ago he had been attacked by a mortar team while in his car. That's everyday life for them over there. But he said, 'It's alright. Everyday I wake up and decide that this day I will follow Jesus no matter what the cost. That decision could end my life any day, but it is worth it for Jesus.'

This is a specific command to this person from God. Endure this hardship for My sake. And this is what Isaiah was commanded. And then it says 'And he did so'. (Isaiah 20:2b). This is the response needed by us. We don't respond to Gd by saying 'Yes, I will do it!' That's not good enough. We need to DO it. We must be so focussed on God and so dedicated that what He commands, we do. This has been known since ever, but is hard to achieve. We must do what God wills. Whether painful, shameful, glorious, easy, hard, fun or boring (no, it's never boring in the end).

'Then the LORD said, "Just as My servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and a wonder against Egypt and Ethiopia..." (Isaiah 20:3)

The first thing we realise when reading this was that Isaiah's shame was not for a short time. Three years he had been walking around like this. It was not a 'one-off' dedication to God. Sometimes we agree to pray for someone or something and then pray avidly for a week and subsequently forget about it (at least I know I often do). Sometimes we think we can manage to do something hard for God as long as we can get it over and done with. Often i find myself thinking that if only there was a button i could press that would get me to do all the right things, even knowing the pain it would bring, I would press it. But such an outlook on the Christian life is flawed (and obviously unreal), because GOd isn't looking for how much stuff we do right or wrong as much as He is looking for our dedication to Him and our willingness to persevere in troubles and strife (and also the good times which are sometimes harder).

From Isaiah's example we see that dedication and perseverance in the designated task by God was necessary. The Christian life, likewise, is not a one-decision, one-moment experience. It's not that we make a decision (albeit hard) and then forget about things like as if that was all God was looking for. The Christian life is just that, a LIFE. We LIVE for Christ. That means dedication. That means sticking to His plan for you for extended periods of time.

The second thing we notice from this short verse is that God calls Isaiah 'My servant'. While being rather innocuous at first reading, this title actually places Isaiah in a very select group of people within the Bible. It contains people such as Moses, Abraham, Caleb, David, Job, and Nebuchadnezzar.

Now, we are all servants of Christ, which renders us servants of God, in one sense. Becoming a Christian automatically means you are a servant of God, along with being a child of God. However, think about this. Could God put you on that list, and say of you, 'My servant...'? Just because the Biblical period is over doesn't mean we can't be as good as any of the Bible characters. We have a flawed way of thinking, that since the Bible is finished that the Bible characters were 'there' and we are 'here'. It's an 'us and them' situation. But the world hasn't changed. We are in a different age, the Age of Grace. But this only means that it should be easier to live completely for God! Let us strive to be called 'My servant' by our awesome, sovereign God. Can you think of anything better? Let us become more and more like Christ, not so that we can boast and call ourselves good people, but so that we can be servants of the living God. So that we can bring glory to His name.