Isaiah 30:15-18

¹⁵ Because the Lord Yahveh, the holy one of Israel, said this: “By returning and resting you will be delivered; your strength will be shown by quietness and by trust.” But you were not willing, ¹⁶ and you said, “No! because we plan to run away by horse!” For this reason, you will run away! And, “We will escape by fast horse!” For this reason, your pursuers will be fast! ¹⁷ One thousand of you will run from the face of one opponent, from the face of five opponents you will flee, until you are left like a flagstaff on top of a mountain, and like a signal on a hill. ¹⁸ For this reason, Yahveh waits to show grace to you, and for this reason he will rise up to show you mercy, because Yahveh is a just God; all those who wait for him will be blessed.

when running away is wrong

The inhabitants of Judah had an escape plan. They did not much trust the prophets, who kept telling them that they were doomed to face invading armies because of their rebellion against God. But, just in case the prophets turned out to be right, they had a plan B. They had fast horses tethered up outside their homes, ready for a quick departure. But God knew all about their escape plans. He had invading armies, with equally fast horses, ready to hunt them down. Isaiah tells this people that the only safety they can find is not in running away, but in returning to Yahveh, and resting faithfully in the covenant they had rejected.

Ultimately, judgment will come on this entire planet. What is your escape plan? There is only one way to escape God’s judgment and destruction in hell. The Fast horse is not. The fast car is not it. Being good is not it. Return to God, and his covenant, paid for by the blood of Christ. Wait on God to rescue you.

LORD, we surrender our plans for survival. We have decided to give your plan a go.