Isaiah 10:5-15 – We are merely God’s instrument

Assyria was a tool in God’s hand. This foreign northern nation was an instrument God used to deal with His godless people. It may seem strange that God should use the term “godless” to describe Israel. Shouldn’t this word more aptly describe the Assyrians? The use of this word on His people clearly shows us God has only one measuring standard as far as sin is concerned. Israel was just as godless as the Assyrians. Even though Israel was His chosen nation, it did not make God evaluate them differently. Sin will always be sin in God’s sight, as it was for Assyria, so also for Israel. As Christians, we need to know that sin will always be sin in God’s sight. As His people, we are not exempted from discipline if we choose to adopt a sinful lifestyle.  

In this passage, it is also clear that God is sovereign. Being sovereign, no nation is outside of His control. It is His prerogative to use whichever nation He so chooses to deal with His people. Isaiah tells us here that He chose to use Assyria to deal with godless Israel to get them into alignment. Here the Assyrians did not even know that they were tools in God’s hand. They thought they were mighty in themselves. They boasted of their power and how they had subdued nations. Yet unknown to them they were merely pawns in the hand of God. Though Assyria thought highly of her might and capturing Israel was a prized catch to them, they did not realize that it all happened because God so purposed it.

Assyria boasted of her might, oblivious that she was only an instrument God had chosen to use to align His people. To God, this was where their misery started. So, we see in verse 5 how God through Isaiah began to pronounce woe on them. There is a lesson here that we must learn. As instruments whom God chooses to use, we must not be tempted to think of ourselves too greatly. Our capacity to impact people is a God-given privilege. Without Him, we cannot do a single thing. Hence, the minute we allow the thought that we must be great because we are used by God, we will be in for some reality check. Remember God will give grace to the humble but He will resist the proud. Serve diligently by all means but give God the glory for the successes. He alone deserves all the praise!