How do we reconcile Isaiah 31's call to trust God over foreign alliances with other passages where God uses pagan nations for His purposes?

1. Introduction to the Issue

Isaiah 31:1–3 warns the people of Judah against relying on Egypt for military help:

“Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the abundance of chariots and in the multitude of horsemen. They do not look to the Holy One of Israel; they do not seek the LORD. Yet He too is wise and can bring disaster; He does not retract His words. He will rise up against the house of the wicked, against the helpers of evildoers. But the Egyptians are men, not God; their horses are flesh, not spirit. When the LORD stretches out His hand, the helper will stumble and the helped will fall; both will perish together.”

At first glance, this directive — to trust in God rather than in foreign alliances — can appear to conflict with other biblical accounts, such as when God raises up foreign nations or even empowers them to accomplish His purposes (e.g., Cyrus of Persia in Isaiah 44:28; 45:1). How do we reconcile these two themes of not placing confidence in pagan powers, yet witnessing God occasionally employ those very nations to fulfill His redemptive plan?

Below follows an in-depth exploration, addressing the historical context, the theological underpinnings of trusting in God, and examples of how biblical passages fit together without contradiction.

2. Historical Context of Isaiah 31

In Isaiah’s time, the Kingdom of Judah faced significant external threats, primarily from the Assyrian Empire. Under intense pressure, Judah’s kings were sometimes tempted to form alliances with surrounding nations, most notably Egypt, to gain military advantage. Egypt’s powerful chariots were renowned throughout the ancient Near East.

However, God’s repeated admonition was that the people of Judah should depend upon Him for deliverance rather than seek protection in human armies. Historically, trusting in Egypt had proven unreliable (cf. 2 Kings 17–18; Isaiah 30:1–5). Against this backdrop, Isaiah 31 calls out the folly of putting one’s confidence in temporal powers instead of the divine power of the Creator of the universe.

3. The Overarching Biblical Principle of Trust

Throughout Scripture, there is a consistent teaching regarding the believer’s response to crisis: genuine reliance on God Himself. This message transcends specific time periods or covenants. From Abraham’s journey (Genesis 12) to the psalmists’ prayers (Psalm 20:7: “Some trust in chariots and others in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.”) to the New Testament call to trust God in all things (Philippians 4:6–7), the overarching lesson remains uniform: God desires full allegiance of hearts and minds.

• God seeks acknowledgment of His sovereignty. By refusing human alliances in Isaiah 31, Judah learns their military strength ultimately comes from the Lord.

• Trust is an issue of worship. Aligning with foreign powers often carried the temptation of adopting their idols (cf. 2 Kings 16:3–4). Reliance on pagan nations risked spiritual compromise.

4. Examples of God Using Foreign Nations for His Purposes

Seemingly in tension with the call not to form alliances, Scripture indeed records multiple instances where God sovereignly uses pagan nations or rulers:

- Babylon as an Instrument of Judgment: God allowed Babylon to conquer Judah because of Judah’s persistence in idolatry (Jeremiah 25:8–9).

- King Cyrus of Persia: Called God’s “shepherd” (Isaiah 44:28) and “anointed” (Isaiah 45:1), Cyrus was used in God’s plan to permit the exiles to return to Jerusalem.

- Assyria for Israel’s Refinement: Isaiah 10 describes Assyria as “the rod of My anger,” employed by God to judge the northern kingdom.

Scripture thus shows that Yahweh can orchestrate events on a global scale to fulfill His redemptive design. Such divine sovereignty, however, does not endorse alliances with these nations; rather, it reveals that God has the power to use them as He sees fit.

5. Differentiating Between God’s Sovereign Use and Human Trust

The key to resolving any apparent contradiction is recognizing the difference between God using a foreign nation by His divine will and His people actively seeking refuge in that nation. The passages calling for trust in God (e.g., Isaiah 31) focus on Judah’s predicament: should they place their faith in horses, chariots, and political pacts, or rest in the Lord?

• Dependence vs. Instrumentality: God’s sovereignty means He can raise up any nation for His purposes (Daniel 2:20–21). Yet that does not give spiritual license for Judah or any believer to make idolatrous pacts or to put their ultimate hope in man-made power structures.

• God’s Holiness and Jealousy: God repeatedly asks for exclusive devotion (Exodus 20:3–5), insisting that the hearts of His people not stray after other “protectors.” Dependence on these alliances often resulted in syncretism, mixing the worship of Yahweh with pagan rituals.

6. Theological Consistency Within Scripture

From a broader theological perspective, the historical examples in the Old Testament illustrate God’s sovereign prerogative. He may use any kingdom to execute His judgment or carry forward His covenant plan. Meanwhile, the covenant people are commanded to place their trust in the Lord alone.

• God Remains the True Deliverer: In Isaiah 31:5, we see the imagery of God defending Jerusalem: “Like birds hovering overhead, so the LORD of Hosts will shield Jerusalem—He will shield and deliver it; He will ‘pass over’ and preserve it.” His promise underscores that even while external politics churn, God alone guarantees His people’s safety.

• Jesus’ Teachings on Trust: This theme extends into the New Testament, where reliance on God over worldly methods continues. In Matthew 6:25–34, the call to “seek first the kingdom of God” parallels the principle taught in Isaiah’s time, emphasizing God’s faithfulness to provide.

7. Reconciliation of the Apparent Contradiction

1. Immediate Context

The immediate historical context of Isaiah 31 is the crisis posed by Assyria. Forming an alliance with Egypt was a move made from a posture of fear. God’s injunction spoke specifically to the hearts of His people: rely on Me, not on Egypt.

2. God’s Sovereign Use of Nations

The fact that God later used Babylon, Persia, or any kingdom in His plan does not contradict the call to trust Him. It highlights that God controls history — He can orchestrate various nations towards His redemptive goals without endorsing His people depending on those nations for salvation or security.

3. Covenantal Relationship

Israel’s and Judah’s covenant with God meant a unique obligation of loyalty (Deuteronomy 7:6–11). Their forming alliances was less about normal diplomacy and more about covenant infidelity, substituting God’s help with another “savior.” This breach of covenant was a spiritual affront, different from God’s prerogative to steer international affairs in His timing.

8. Practical Implications for Understanding Scripture

For modern readers, the tension seen in Isaiah 31 versus examples of pagan nations being used by God reminds us that:

• Our Ultimate Confidence Must Always Rest in God

Whether in personal crises or national affairs, Scripture consistently extols trust in the Creator rather than in purely human mechanisms.

• God’s Sovereignty Is Not Limited to Believing Nations

What might seem contradictory at first becomes coherent when we acknowledge God’s ability to govern both the righteous and the unrighteous according to His purposes.

• Holistic Reading of Scripture Resolves Apparent Contradictions

Examining texts from their historical, literary, and theological vantage points helps us see unity rather than contradiction. This is supported by the breadth of ancient manuscripts (cf. the Qumran Isaiah Scroll) showing consistency in the biblical record.

9. Conclusion

Isaiah 31’s admonition to avoid foreign alliances is neither contradictory nor incompatible with biblical accounts of God using pagan nations to accomplish His will. The consistent scriptural teaching is for God’s people to trust Him fully. At the same time, God’s majesty and sovereignty extend over all nations and all of history, meaning He can employ any person or power as an instrument of His plan.

When viewed as part of a cohesive message, these passages reinforce a profound and comforting truth: God calls His people to trust Him exclusively, while He remains free to wield the affairs of the world in accordance with His righteous and redemptive design. In this, there is no contradiction but a display of God’s omnipotence and faithfulness, seen throughout Scripture and underscored by the prophet Isaiah’s timeless words: “They do not look to the Holy One of Israel; they do not seek the LORD” (Isaiah 31:1). The true path is to seek Him, for He alone brings genuine deliverance.