The ReturnNäide

Why Return?

Isaiah 30 centers around an incredible invitation from God to return to Him. We’re called to put aside our own plans, turn from our misguided ways, and come back to God, who waits to welcome us. The chapter is divided into three sections. In the ESV translation, the heading of part one is ‘Do Not Go Down to Egypt.’ This is God’s instruction to His people who were trying to make deals with Pharoah for protection. God told them this was a bad idea because they could rely on Him for protection.

Part two is titled ‘A Rebellious People,’ because the Israelites ignored God’s instruction. They went to Egypt anyway. We might expect part three’s heading to be ‘God’s Punishment’ or ‘Consequences of Disobedience.’ Astonishingly, it’s entitled ‘The Lord Will Be Gracious.’

Isaiah 30:15 sums up God’s gracious—and completely countercultural and counterintuitive—invitation. God watched His people trying to save themselves by making deals with Egypt, just like He watches us striving for our own salvation. And He invites us to stop.

From the story of God’s people in Isaiah 30, we discover two ways we end up wandering away from God, and what’s at stake if we refuse His invitation to return. First, the Israelites relied on their own wisdom (Isaiah 30:9–10). They refused to listen to prophets—and by implication, the God who had sent them. We can fall into this same trap, dismissing good advice or wise instructions in favour of something that makes us feel better.

Second, God’s people trusted in their own resources. They were seduced by the power and importance of Egypt. They wanted protection and figured Egypt was their ticket to safety. They loaded camels and donkeys with bribes for Pharoah, relying on what their wealth could buy them instead of relying on God (Isaiah 30:16). Again, we’re just the same, too often putting our trust in money, education, assets, connections, or investments—instead of in God.

Isaiah 30:13–17 paints vivid pictures of what awaits us if we refuse to return to God. Our rejection of God’s ways will lead to unexpected destruction—like a clay pot that suddenly ruptures into so many small pieces it can’t be put back together again. We’ll be like signposts with the signs torn off, or flagpoles with no flags. In other words, living our lives detached from God robs us of our identity and purpose, and that has implications for us and those around us too.

Let’s not court disaster by striving to save ourselves. Rather, let’s trust God’s timing and His power to save us. Let’s stop our wayward wandering and return to Him, where we will find rest.