Devo Sept 24 Isaiah 20

Chapter 20
1 In the year that the supreme commander, sent by Sargon king of Assyria,
came to Ashdod and attacked and captured it— 2 at that time the
LORD spoke through Isaiah son of Amoz. He said to him, “Take off the
sackcloth from your body and the sandals from your feet.” And he did so,
going around stripped and barefoot.3 Then the LORD said, “Just as my
servant Isaiah has gone stripped and barefoot for three years, as a sign and
portent against Egypt and Cush, 4 so the king of Assyria will lead away
stripped and barefoot the Egyptian captives and Cushite exiles, young and
old, with buttocks bared —to Egypt’s shame. 5 Those who trusted in Cush
and boasted in Egypt will be dismayed and put to shame. 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? ’”

Personal Note:
Isaiah must have felt something of a fool in the eighth century BC, when he was told by God to wander the streets of Jerusalem stripped (to a loincloth) and barefoot for some three years. This relative
of the royal family exposed himself to shame at God’s command, to serve as an object lesson. Soon the sovereign God would execute judgement against Egypt and Cush (Ethiopia), and their people
would suffer Isaiah’s fate.

God is unlikely to ask me to walk about in diapers or drag a cross. But there will be times when we feel a little embarrassed or foolish at the thought of doing something we feel convicted is God’s will.
At such times, what will be my response? Will I treasure my reputation, image and acceptance of others more than pleasing God and following God’s will?