Isaiah 30:1-7--Do Not Go Down to Egypt

Isaiah 30:1-7
English Standard Version

Do Not Go Down to Egypt
30 “Ah, stubborn children,” declares the LORD,
“who carry out a plan, but not mine,
and who make an alliance, but not of my Spirit,
    that they may add sin to sin;
2 who set out to go down to Egypt,
    without asking for my direction,
to take refuge in the protection of Pharaoh
    and to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt!
3 Therefore shall the protection of Pharaoh turn to your shame,
    and the shelter in the shadow of Egypt to your humiliation.
4 For though his officials are at Zoan
    and his envoys reach Hanes,
5 everyone comes to shame
    through a people that cannot profit them,
that brings neither help nor profit,
    but shame and disgrace.”

6 An oracle on the beasts of the Negeb.

​Through a land of trouble and anguish,
    from where come the lioness and the lion,
    the adder and the flying fiery serpent,
they carry their riches on the backs of donkeys,
    and their treasures on the humps of camels,
    to a people that cannot profit them.
7 Egypt's help is worthless and empty;
    therefore I have called her
    “Rahab who sits still.

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The Israelites consistently have a problem with putting their hope in men instead of God (we do too).  Specifically, they have an issue with trusting in the horses and chariots of the Egyptians because they allowed for fast, armored travel. However, the LORD's purpose of them going down to Egypt to escape the wickedness of the Canaanites had been fulfilled, and once they had crossed the Red Sea, they were to never go back that way.

The Pharoah of Egypt would not be able to save them from the destruction that the LORD had prophesied against them.  The people of Israel will try to give their wealth to Egypt in payment for their protection, but it will do no good, because the armies of Egypt are incapable of protecting Israel from the hand of the LORD.  Egypt will take their money, see their distress, and do nothing to help them (for they will need to think of themselves in that moment).