When God's Word Leaves You Naked

God's prophets were sometimes crazy. 

Isaiah 20:1–2 (ESV) In the year that the commander in chief, who was sent by Sargon the king of Assyria, came to Ashdod and fought against it and captured it— 2 at that time the LORD spoke by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, “Go, and loose the sackcloth from your waist and take off your sandals from your feet,” and he did so, walking naked and barefoot.

Sometimes God asked His prophets to play out the part in the narrative He was proclaiming. Egypt was going to be dragged off as prisoners of war to Assyria. So Isaiah needed to make it clear this course of action would come about. Therefore God ordained him to be a living illustration of their future.

Isaiah 20:3–4 (ESV) Then the LORD said, “As my servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot for three years as a sign and a portent against Egypt and Cush, 4 so shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptian captives and the Cushite exiles, both the young and the old, naked and barefoot, with buttocks uncovered, the nakedness of Egypt.

Imagine that! God was in favor of sermon illustrations through His prophets. I have often used some kind of prop or illustrative idea to make a point and it's good to know there's Biblical precedent from the 8th century B.C. 

Hard to imagine in our day but Isaiah literally did this. He walked naked and barefoot for three years. Why? Because men's hearts are hard. They have stopped ears and sometimes only dramatic illustrations can open them up.

Isaiah 20:5–6 (ESV) Then they shall be dismayed and ashamed because of Cush their hope and of Egypt their boast. 6 And the inhabitants of this coastland will say in that day, ‘Behold, this is what has happened to those in whom we hoped and to whom we fled for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria! And we, how shall we escape?’ ”

Another reason for the dramatic illustration? Egypt was proud. They could not hear God because they were so full of themselves. No sin is as devastating as pride. It stops our hearts from knowing the Lord. 

Now in verse, 6 Isaiah references the Philistines. Here they were in the middle and thinking that Egypt was their safety net from invasion. But that was not the case. God was removing their assumed defense from invasion. 

What is that defense mechanism for you? Something you've decided can keep you from the judgment of God? Your good works? Your genetic makeup? Your skin color? Your self-identity? Here's the hard less learned in Isaiah 20. God's presence exposes you for what you really are. There is no hiding. But Hebrews outlines the hope you are offered in Christ. 

Hebrews 4:12–13 (ESV) For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

God's word exposes us. It cuts deep and reveals our lives before Him. We all stand naked before Him. But the very next verse outlines our hope:

Hebrews 4:14–16 (ESV) Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

In Christ, we have a prophet who could condemn us for our sins but instead bore our sins and hung naked on the cross for us. Christ is our true Isaiah, only His nakedness is not a sign of our judgment but of God's mercy. He gives us what we do not deserve because Christ took it for us. And in Him we have redemption through His blood.