Historical Setting

• Timeframe: Around 711 B.C.
• King: Sargon II of Assyria (father of Sennacherib)
• Backdrop: Egypt and Cush (Ethiopia/Sudan) formed an anti-Assyrian alliance and sought Judah’s support. Judah was tempted to trust Egypt’s power instead of God’s protection.
• Purpose: God used Isaiah’s dramatic act to warn Judah not to rely on human alliances, especially Egypt and Cush, for deliverance.

V 1-2  Historical Background: Sargon II’s army captured Ashdod, a key Philistine city on the Mediterranean coast. Ashdod had revolted with Egyptian support, hoping to form an anti-Assyrian coalition.

Judah watched closely, wondering whether Egypt could stop Assyria. The fall of Ashdod proved that Egypt was no match. God was showing Judah that political alliances with Egypt were futile; only trust in the Lord brings security.

V 2 “At the same time the LORD spoke by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, ‘Go, and remove the sackcloth from your body, and take your sandals off your feet.’ And he did so, walking naked and barefoot.”

Isaiah’s symbolic act by walking “naked and barefoot”, means he removed his outer garment (the prophet’s mantle or robe of mourning), not complete nudity. It represented humiliation and captivity. Isaiah physically demonstrated what would happen to Egypt and Cush, they would be stripped, humiliated, and led away captive by Assyria. This is how conquering armies acted in victory. This is clearly seen in vv 4-5.

God’s prophets lived their message. Sometimes God calls us to speak the truth but to embody it. This is why there are times where trials and sufferings come upon God’s children.  We too can embody hope and faith in our trials.

Isaiah’s humiliation foreshadows the Messiah’s willingness to bear shame publicly (Isaiah 53:3). Just as Isaiah walked exposed for others’ sins, Yeshua bore our reproach. He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.

V 3 “Then the LORD said, ‘Just as My servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and a wonder against Egypt and Ethiopia…’”

For three years, Isaiah’s life was a continuous warning. This likely covered the period before Assyria’s campaign against Egypt and Cush. “Sign and wonder” Points to a visible, God-given symbol. His endurance testified that divine judgment was not distant, it was imminent.

God gives repeated warnings before judgment. His patience is long, but not endless. Similarly, The Church and Israel are likewise “signs” to the nations—called to live visibly for truth in a world trusting in worldly powers. Consider the warnings to the First Century church in Revelation 2-3. They did not heed and now those very lands are under Muslim, anti-Christian rule.

V 4-5 “…so shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptians as prisoners and the Ethiopians as captives, young and old, naked and barefoot, with their buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt.”

Assyria under Sargon and later Esarhaddon defeated Egypt and Cush (Isaiah 37:9, 2 Kings 19:9). Captives were paraded in humiliation. The alliance Judah trusted in would itself fall. Egypt’s shame would be visible to all nations.

Those who put their trust in worldly strength will share in its downfall. “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength…” (Jeremiah 17:5).

Where Egypt’s pride led to shame, Messiah’s humility leads to glory. He reversed the curse by bearing our shame on the cross (Hebrews 12:2) fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

V 5 “Then they shall be afraid and ashamed of Ethiopia their expectation and Egypt their glory.”Judah and nearby nations admired Egypt’s culture, wealth, and army.

God’s Message to His people: “The one you glorified will become your disgrace.” We need to examine what we “glory” in, whether human wisdom, wealth, or political alliances. Paul says, “Let him who glories, glory in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:31).

Verse 6 “And the inhabitant of this coastland will say in that day, ‘Surely such is our expectation, wherever we flee for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria; and how shall we escape?’”

“This coastland” refers to Philistia and Judah’s coastal plain—those who had pinned their hope on Egypt.

They will realize there is no human escape from God’s judgment. God allows worldly securities to collapse so that His people return to Him. The right response is repentance and renewed trust in God alone.

This verse looks ahead to the future Day of the Lord, when all nations realize human strength cannot deliver from divine judgment. Only the Messiah can bring true salvation.

Summary of the Chapter

Theme	Description	Application
Judgment on Egypt & Cush	God exposes the futility of relying on political alliances.	Don’t seek security in worldly systems.
Isaiah as a Sign	The prophet’s life preaches as powerfully as his words.	God often calls His people to bethe message.
Humiliation Before Glory	Egypt’s pride leads to shame; the Messiah’s humility leads to glory.	Humble dependence brings redemption.
Trust in God Alone	Judah’s salvation comes only from faith in the LORD, not in Egypt.	The same is true for believers today.

Isaiah’s humiliation points to Yeshua’s suffering. Both are called “My servant” and both bear shame to reveal God’s glory.

Isaiah 20 reflects the global temptation of Israel, the Church and Believers to rely on alliances and diplomacy instead of God’s provision and power. Ultimately, in the end times, all nations will fail Israel, but the Lord Himself will save her (Zechariah 12:10; Isaiah 30:15).

God may strip away every false security until only His presence remains. When all else fails, He alone is our refuge.