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About this chapterWhen the Assyrian commander Sargon captures the Philistine city of Ashdod, God tells Isaiah to remove his sackcloth and sandals and walk around stripped and barefoot for three years as a sign. It portrays how the Assyrian king will lead away Egyptian and Cushite captives, stripped and barefoot, in disgrace. Those who trusted in Cush and boasted of Egypt will be dismayed and ashamed. On that day, the people of the coast will ask how they themselves can escape now that their allies have fallen. The lesson is that trusting political allies instead of God ends in shame.

When the Assyrian commander Sargon captures the Philistine city of Ashdod, God tells Isaiah to remove his sackcloth and sandals and walk around stripped and barefoot for three years as a sign. It portrays how the Assyrian king will lead away Egyptian and Cushite captives, stripped and barefoot, in disgrace. Those who trusted in Cush and boasted of Egypt will be dismayed and ashamed. On that day, the people of the coast will ask how they themselves can escape now that their allies have fallen. The lesson is that trusting political allies instead of God ends in shame.

Themes

  • A prophetic sign
  • Misplaced trust in allies
  • Shame of false security

Key verses

Audio Bible · Isaiah 20

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Isaiah 20

Berean Standard Bible6 verses · 1 min read

1Before the year that the chief commander, sent by Sargon king of Assyria, came to Ashdod and attacked and captured it, 2the LORD had already spoken through Isaiah son of Amoz, saying, “Go, remove the sackcloth from your waist and the sandals from your feet.” And Isaiah did so, walking around naked and barefoot. 3Then the LORD said, “Just as My servant Isaiah has gone naked and barefoot for three years as a sign and omen against Egypt and Cush, 4so the king of Assyria will lead away the captives of Egypt and the exiles of Cush, young and old alike, naked and barefoot, with bared buttocks—to Egypt’s shame. 5Those who made Cush their hope and Egypt their boast will be dismayed and ashamed. 6And on that day the dwellers of this coastland will say, ‘See what has happened to our source of hope, those to whom we fled for help and deliverance from the king of Assyria! How then can we escape?’”
Verses in Isaiah 20
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