What God's Judgment on a Rebellious Nation Looks Like

Isaiah 3... 

Isaiah 3:1–3 (ESV) For behold, the Lord GOD of hosts is taking away from Jerusalem and from Judah support and supply, all support of bread, and all support of water; 2 the mighty man and the soldier, the judge and the prophet, the diviner and the elder, 3 the captain of fifty and the man of rank, the counselor and the skillful magician and the expert in charms.

When God judges a nation He begins by removing good leadership. He allows the folly of that people to replace wise and noble leaders (both spiritually and civilly) with immature self-indulgent youth. I did not say this. Isaiah did. In Isaiah 3:1-3 he describes the removal by God's hand of the strong leadership in men in all avenues of society - the military, the courts, the religious system, and the community. 

In the next verse he stipulates who replaces them:

Isaiah 3:4 (ESV) And I will make boys their princes, and infants shall rule over them.

In verse 12 we get another picture...

Isaiah 3:12 (ESV) My people—infants are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, your guides mislead you and they have swallowed up the course of your paths.

A nation that gives power and influence to children and women over men is in trouble. This of course is completely unacceptable to modern society. But again, we are on the same path as ancient Israel so of course, these statements of truth would sound terribly offensive. 

The next section of Isaiah 3 reveals how the nation falls into desperate attempts to forge what it lost by rejecting the Lord. 

Isaiah 3:6 (ESV) For a man will take hold of his brother in the house of his father, saying: “You have a cloak; you shall be our leader, and this heap of ruins shall be under your rule”;

As a nation declines the people will become DESPERATE for leadership. So desperate that the qualification will be a simple as owning a coat! What a picture of our elections in America! But the next verse highlights that person's response.

Isaiah 3:7 (ESV) in that day he will speak out, saying: “I will not be a healer; in my house there is neither bread nor cloak; you shall not make me leader of the people.”

The man says I cannot heal you. Why this response? Because as a nation rebels against God, the inevitable result will be nothing but sickness and death. And no man on his own can heal the nation. So that nation will jump from leader to leader looking for what only God can do for them. And since there is no healing for their state, they will revel in their rebellion.

Another picture of a nation in decline? Pride in their sin.

Isaiah 3:9 (ESV) For the look on their faces bears witness against them; they proclaim their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it. Woe to them! For they have brought evil on themselves.

Today "pride" is considered a virtue. Pride in what? In one's sexuality and or gender? What utter nonsense. What is there to be proud of? That offers no usefulness or help to others. It's simply a celebration of inward idolatry. 

Now as this happens we may despair. But we must not. Isaiah offers consolation to those who still trust in Yahweh as the nation crumbles from her own filthy decisions. 

Isaiah 3:10 (ESV) Tell the righteous that it shall be well with them, for they shall eat the fruit of their deeds.

God always preserves a people for Himself. And even here in the dark times of Israel's demise, there is hope for those who hope in God. 

Are you seeing the same things happen today? Of course. This is how nations fall. They become big, and comfortable, and then get casual around spiritual things and eventually contentious toward God. As it happens, listen to the Word of God, live differently and watch Him bless you.