Isaiah 30: Group Study Handout

How to use: read Isaiah 30 aloud together, then take the questions in order. One page is enough for an evening.

Overview

Yahweh pronounces woe on the rebellious children who seek counsel not from him and turn to Egypt for help (vv. 1-3). He declares that their reliance on Pharaoh will lead to shame and confusion (v.

Key verse

“Therefore Yahweh will wait, that he may be gracious to you; and therefore he will be exalted, that he may have mercy on you, for Yahweh is a God of justice. Blessed are all those who wait for him.”
Isaiah 30:18 (WEB)

Outline

Isaiah 30:1–3 Woe to Rebellious Children
Isaiah 30:4–9 The Futility of Egyptian Alliances
Isaiah 30:10–14 Rejection of God's Word
Isaiah 30:15–17 Call to Repentance and Rest
Isaiah 30:18–26 God's Promise of Grace
Isaiah 30:27–33 Judgment and Final Hope

Discussion questions

In v1, who does Yahweh warn about taking counsel?
What does Yahweh say will be the outcome of relying on Pharaoh in v3?
In vv. 12-14, why does God describe their iniquity as a 'breach ready to fall'?
In v18, why does Yahweh wait to be gracious to the people of Judah?
When have you relied on 'the strength of Pharaoh' instead of trusting God's guidance?

Go deeper

Passages that echo Isaiah 30: Proverbs 3, Isaiah 48, Jeremiah 6.

Before next time: read Isaiah 31.