GOD WARNS OF COMING DISASTER
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2025
An In-Depth Look at Discerning Divine Warnings and Trusting in God Alone
BIBLICAL FOUNDATION:
- MEMORY VERSE: “So the king of Assyria will lead away stripped and barefoot the Egyptian captives and Cushite exiles, young and old, with buttocks bared to Egypt’s shame. Those who trusted in Cush and boasted in Egypt will be dismayed and put to shame.” (Isaiah 20:4-5, NIV)
- TEXT: Isaiah 20:1-6
- RBT: Ezekiel 31-32
MESSAGE: GOD WARNS OF COMING DISASTER
Life is full of moments where we are faced with decisions, and our choices often come down to who or what we will put our faith in. The Bible is a powerful testament to the fact that God consistently warns humanity of impending disaster, not to terrify us, but to guide us toward a path of safety and reliance on Him alone. The core of this message is a timeless truth: confidence in anything other than the living God brings about destruction.
The book of Isaiah is a collection of prophetic warnings and promises to the people of Judah and Israel. In Isaiah 20, God uses a powerful and unconventional act to deliver a message to His people. At a time when the Assyrian empire was a terrifying and expanding force, the nations of Egypt and Cush were the regional superpowers. Israel, in a moment of fear and faithlessness, chose to put their trust in these foreign nations for protection rather than in their covenant-keeping God
The Prophetic Act of Isaiah
God chose His prophet, Isaiah, to be a living, walking parable for three years. The Lord commanded him to “Take off the sackcloth from your body and the sandals from your feet.” (Isaiah 20:2). For three years, Isaiah walked around stripped down to his inner garment and barefoot. This was a profound and humiliating act for the prophet, but it was an undeniable message.
This act was a sign and a portent, a visible prophecy of what was to come. It was a direct and vivid message to the people of Judah and Israel that their trust in Egypt and Cush was completely misplaced. The very nations they were relying on would be defeated by the Assyrians and led into a shameful captivity, stripped of their power, dignity, and wealth. The sight of Isaiah walking in this manner was a constant, living reminder of their impending fate.
Isaiah’s obedience was a testament to his faith in God’s word. The people of Judah looked at his nakedness and saw a warning that was impossible to ignore. God’s message was that the same shame and humiliation Isaiah displayed would be the fate of the nations they foolishly put their faith in. Those who trusted in Cush and boasted in Egypt would be dismayed and put to shame.
This ancient story is not just a historical account; it is a timeless principle for believers today. The warning is to be careful of neglecting God and putting our trust in human help, worldly systems, or personal connections.
Discerning God’s Warnings
God still speaks to His people today, often through quiet promptings, spiritual impressions, or even dreams. The story of the woman traveling to the States is a modern example of this. She had booked her flight and was ready to go, but God, in His mercy, gave her a clear warning in a dream. The warning was not a suggestion; it was a divine intervention. When she woke up, she had the presence of mind to seek God and, in obedience, to act on the strong leading she felt to cancel her flight. Her obedience to that divine warning saved her life.
This story highlights a key aspect of our relationship with God: our willingness to listen and obey. Many people receive warnings from God but dismiss them as coincidence, fear, or a trick of their imagination. The woman in the story, however, understood the gravity of the warning and chose to trust God’s voice over her travel plans. Her faith was in God’s protection, not in the safety of the airline.
The Dangers of False Confidence
The article also provides a warning against giving others a false sense of confidence in something other than God. This applies to our promises, our counsel, and our leadership. We must examine the promises we make to others. Do they lead people to trust in you and your abilities, or do they ultimately point them to God as the true source of help?
As Christians, we are called to be a light, but we must be careful not to become the light itself. We are simply a reflection of the true Light, which is Jesus Christ. When we lead people to trust in us or in our resources, we are setting them up for a potential fall. The only true and unwavering source of help is the living God.
In our personal lives, we must cast down everything that takes us away from God and return to Him. This is a call to continuous repentance and surrender. If we have been relying on our jobs, our finances, our social connections, or even our own strength, we are standing on a faulty foundation. Our confidence should be in Christ alone.
A Call to Action
Ponder: Do you still trust in ungodly alliances or earthly security? Are you relying on your savings account more than on God’s provision? Are you more afraid of losing your job than of disobeying God’s command?
Perceive: What you put your faith in determines your future. A faith placed in the fleeting things of this world will always lead to dismay and shame. A faith placed in the unchanging character of God will always lead to victory and peace.
Practise: Today, take a moment to encourage someone to trust in God’s help in the face of challenges. Share a story of how God came through for you. Your testimony is a powerful tool to point others to the true source of help.
Pray: Lord, help me to trust in You and to have confidence in what You can do. Be it unto me according to Your Word. Amen.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to trust in You alone. Forgive me for the times I have put my confidence in worldly things and human help. I surrender my fears and my future to You. Give me the courage to be a living testimony of Your power and to lead others to place their trust in You and You alone. In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Q1: Why did God use such a drastic measure as having Isaiah walk around stripped and barefoot?
A: God used this drastic measure to get the people’s attention. In a time when the people were ignoring verbal warnings, a powerful, visual, and public symbol was necessary to communicate the seriousness of their foolish alliance with Egypt and Cush and to show them the humiliation that was to come.
Q2: What is the main lesson from the story of the woman who cancelled her flight?
A: The main lesson is that God speaks to us and warns us, and it is our responsibility to listen and obey. Her obedience to a quiet prompting of the Holy Spirit saved her life, demonstrating that God’s protection is far more reliable than human planning.
Q3: Is it wrong to trust people or have a job?
A: No, it is not wrong to trust people or have a job. The warning is against absolute reliance on these things to the exclusion of God. Our ultimate trust must be in God alone, and everything else should be seen as a blessing or a tool He provides, not as our primary source of security and help.
Question and Answer
Q1: In the Bible story, what two nations did Israel put their trust in instead of God?
A: Israel put their trust in Egypt and Cush.
Q2: For how long did Isaiah walk around stripped and barefoot?
A: Isaiah walked around stripped and barefoot for three years.
Q3: What happened to the plane that the woman was originally supposed to board?
A: The plane crashed with no survivors.
Q4: What is the core message about trust in the article?
A: The core message is that confidence in anything other than the living God brings about destruction.
