Isaiah 17:1-14 – Don’t be a tad too late

In Isaiah 17, the prophet began his warning to Damascus. In describing what would happen to that capital of Aram or Syria, he was also sending a message to Israel. He declared to Israel that like Aram and her cities, Israel’s cities would also be abandoned and made desolate. The reason why they would suffer the same end as Aram was that they had forgotten God, their only hope of deliverance. He was the One who alone could give them the refuge they needed, but they chose rather to trust in their own strength and wit.   

Using agricultural language, Isaiah showed how futile it was for Israel to trust in their own wit to do whatever they could to survive. In their effort to cultivate “delightful plants” they had unwittingly incorporated what was foreign in their effort. Allegorically, “the vine of a strange god” implied that they had adopted the strange idolatrous practices of the foreigners whom they sought help from. In verse 11, sarcastically, Isaiah told them that even if they were to succeed to cause the plant to bud in a day, obviously they could not, their yield would be worthless. Why? Because what was coming upon them could not be deterred by human effort. Their best effort simply would not be enough to see them through.

In verses 12-14, we see a message of hope for God’s people. Although they would be caught up in the upcoming uproar, yet they would not be destroyed in the fiasco. These verses indicate that Damascus and Israel would be dealt with. Though Judah would be caught in the middle, God would miraculously protect and deliver her. Isaiah had foretold of the impending terrifying judgment as well as the hope of deliverance from God. It was time for a decision. It was now up to them to respond to trust God and embrace His promised deliverance.  

A passage like this tells us that we do not need a disaster to happen to us before we turn to God. Being steadfast in trusting God remains the best way to avert calamity and ensure a triumphant life. Do not wait until something catastrophic happens before we will turn to Him. By then, it may be a tad too late. Always strike while the iron is hot. That’s the path to a great destiny!