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Isaiah 30 · a question people ask

Why does the LORD call going down to Egypt sin?

In the text

The chapter gives its reasons in its own words. "Woe to the rebellious children", says the LORD, "who take counsel, but not from me; and who make an alliance, but not with my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin" (30:1), "who set out to go down into Egypt without asking for my advice" (30:2). Counsel is etsah, the word of the woe just before: "Woe to those who deeply hide their counsel from the LORD" (29:15). The chapter also says what Egypt would be to them: "the strength of Pharaoh will be your shame" (30:3), "a people that can’t profit them" (30:5), and "For Egypt helps in vain, and to no purpose" (30:7). Chapter 31 comes back to it: "Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help … but they don’t look to the Holy One of Israel, and they don’t seek the LORD!" (31:1). The chapter says this of the people and the Egypt it names; these notes apply it to no nation, alliance or ruler today.

The verses

“Woe to those who deeply hide their counsel from the LORD, and whose deeds are in the dark, and who say, “Who sees us?” and “Who knows us?””
Isaiah 29:15 · World English Bible
“Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, and rely on horses, and trust in chariots because they are many, and in horsemen because they are very strong, but they don’t look to the Holy One of Israel, and they don’t seek the LORD!”
Isaiah 31:1 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Isaiah 30

Isaiah 30: This is the way

The people told the seers "Don’t see!", said "Get out of the way", and would not hear the LORD's law (30:9-11). The promise answers in the same Hebrew words: "your eyes will see your teachers", "your ears will hear", "This is the way. Walk in it" (30:20-21). And the first one who waits in 30:18 is the LORD.

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions