The Mighty Cush’s Tribute

A pastor and his family accepted a call to a new position, which required them to move from their long-time home. They were excited about the opportunity and believed God was leading them. But the move revealed a spiritual truth for them. “We were grieved over leaving our home—or more accurately, our house—in which we had invested much and which held great memories. In lamenting the loss of our house, we were awakened to something hidden and unknown in our hearts: We had made an idol of our home. Even though we often gave thanks for our home and the peace we enjoyed there, we had assumed the security of our shelter would be forever. Only in the removal of the home from our hands could we see that the treasure of our hearts was a plot of land and a building.”

As the Lord unleashed righteous judgment on Damascus and her citizens, her cities would be stripped bare. Israel, too, would have fields empty of gain and devoid of fruit on the tree (v. 6). The void of natural resources would expose the people’s idolatry, revealing their futility of trusting in man-made gods who provided the illusion of peace, safety, and prosperity but were unable to provide lasting salvation.

The Assyrians besieged Damascus in 732 b.c., making it the heap of ruins that Isaiah prophesied. This shattered the alliance Israel held with Damascus, bringing both nations low. God’s people faced judgment for breaking the first two commandments and trusting in Damascus for salvation rather than the protection that comes from obeying the Lord. Sometimes the Lord uses painful moments to smash our idols and help us grow in the fruit of godliness for His glory.

Pray with Us

Would you include in your prayers the leadership responsibilities of Dr. John Jelinek, interim provost and dean of Moody Theological Seminary? He appreciates your prayer support for Moody’s ministry of undergraduate and graduate education.

BY Dr. Eric C. Redmond

Dr. Eric C. Redmond serves as a professor of Bible at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago and as associate pastor of adult ministries at Calvary Memorial Church in Oak Park, Ill. He is married to Pam and they have five children. He is the author of Say It!  Celebrating Expository Preaching in the African American Tradition (Moody Publishers), Where Are All the Brothers? Straight Answers to Men's’ Questions about the Church (Crossway), a commentary on Jonah in the Christ-Centered Exposition Series (B&H Publishers), and a study guide on Ephesians in the Knowing the Bible series (Crossway).