301 "Woe to the rebellious children ," declares the Lord , "Who execute a plan , but not Mine , And make an alliance , but not of My Spirit , In order to add sin to sin ; 2 Who proceed down to Egypt Without consulting Me, To take refuge in the safety of Pharaoh And to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt ! 3 "Therefore the safety of Pharaoh will be your shame And the shelter in the shadow of Egypt , your humiliation . 4 "For their princes are at Zoan And their ambassadors arrive at Hanes . 5 "Everyone will be ashamed because of a people who cannot profit them, Who are not for help or profit , but for shame and also for reproach ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Isaiah 30:1-5
Commentary on Isaiah 30:1-7
(Read Isaiah 30:1-7)
It was often the fault and folly of the Jews, that when troubled by their neighbours on one side, they sought for succour from others, instead of looking up to God. Nor can we avoid the dreadful consequences of adding sin to sin, but by making the righteousness of Christ our refuge, and seeking for the sanctification of the Holy Spirit. Men have always been prone to lean to their own understandings, but this will end in their shame and misery. They would not trust in God. They took much pains to gain the Egyptians. The riches so spent turned to a bad account. See what dangers men run into who forsake God to follow their carnal confidences. The Creator is the Rock of ages, the creature a broken reed; we cannot expect too little from man, or too much from God. Our strength is to sit still, in humble dependence upon God and his goodness, and quiet submission to his will.