There are Four Primary Ways that God Reveals Himself to Us, ישעיהו ל:כח-לג / Isaiah 30:28-33

Isaiah 30:28-33

The concept of God revealing Himself to the world is one of the most important points of what the Scriptures are revealing to us. There are four primary ways that God reveals Himself to us, (i) in the creation, (ii) in His word the Scriptures, (iii) in His Messiah, and (iv) in writing His Words upon our hearts through His indwelling presence. Paul wrote that the creation reveals the work of God in this world according to Romans 1:19-20.

Romans 1:19–20
1:19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: (KJV, 19 διότι τὸ γνωστὸν τοῦ θεοῦ φανερόν ἐστιν ἐν αὐτοῖς·* ὁ θεὸς γὰρ αὐτοῖς ἐφανέρωσεν. 20 τὰ γὰρ ἀόρατα αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ κτίσεως κόσμου τοῖς ποιήμασιν νοούμενα καθορᾶται, ἥ τε* °ἀΐδιος αὐτοῦ δύναμις καὶ θειότης, εἰς τὸ εἶναι αὐτοὺς ἀναπολογήτους)

Here in Romans 1:20 Paul describes the invisible (ἀόρατα) things from the creation reveal something about God. When we consider the creation, DNA, symbiosis, and the machinery at the cellular level, the complexity of creation, no matter where we look here on earth, is absolutely phenomenal and impossible to occur by chance. This is how the creation itself reveals the Creator God who made all of these things. Because of these things the truth of God should be obvious. The revelation of the Creator God in His creation is only a tiny glimpse of who He is. The Tanakh examples of God appearing to man reveals to us how He wants to make Himself known. When we read that God “appeared to Abraham” (Bereshit / Gen 12:7, 17:1, 18:1-2), the suggestion is that he became visible in human form. The Lord God said about Moshe, “With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the LORD” (Bamidbar / Numbers 12:8). Several passages extend this bodily imagery according to Bereshit / Genesis 3:8, Shemot / Exodus 33:23, Isaiah 6:1-4, and Amos 9:11-15. These anthropomorphic modes of expression do not merely suggest an accommodation to our limited understanding. Rather, behind them lies the profound truth that humans are made in God’s image, even their physical form reflects God’s (nonphysical) nature. Moreover, such phenomena as clouds, brightness, fire, gale, and tempest (see Job 38:1, Tehillim / Psalms 18:12 [17:13], Nahum 1:3) are mentioned as important elements when God’s glory was revealed (Shemot / Exodus 33:18, Bamidbar / Numbers 14:22, Ezekiel 1:28). God’s holiness and majesty, however, prevent humans from seeing him directly. Isaiah’s consciousness of guilt led to the concept of distance (Isaiah 6:5). God’s full glory would slay the living creature (Shemot / Exodus 33:20, Judges 6:22). Thus, the pious long to see the face of God (Tehillim / Psalms 42:2 [41:3]), and the psalmist can even express the hope, “As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face; when I awake, / I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness” (Tehillim / Psalms 17:15 [16:15]). 

The Lord God revealing Himself through the Scriptures is what we have been discussing according to the Torah in Devarim / Deuteronomy 28. The blessings and the curses are for those who believe and listen to the voice of God and those who do not believe and do not listen, respectively. The Torah lists physical phenomena that are meant to reveal to us our spiritual state and relationship with God! These things happen which are meant for us to be able to recognize what is taking place in our lives due to our faithfulness or our unfaithfulness. Devarim / Deuteronomy 28 is in fact deeply spiritual. One of the greatest ways to know the Creator God and His Messiah Yeshua is through the Scriptures. Yeshua himself said that the Scriptures reveal who he is according to Luke 24:27, 24:44-45, and John 5:39. The pages of the Scriptures are eyewitnesses of God interacting with mankind through history, of the Lord God at Egypt and Sinai, and even in the life of Yeshua the Messiah. 

2 Peter 1:16–21
1:16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 1:17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 1:18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. (KJV, 16 Οὐ γὰρ σεσοφισμένοις μύθοις ἐξακολουθήσαντες* ἐγνωρίσαμεν ὑμῖν τὴν τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ δύναμιν καὶ παρουσίαν ἀλλʼ ἐπόπται γενηθέντες τῆς ἐκείνου μεγαλειότητος.* 17 λαβὼν γὰρ παρὰ ⸆ θεοῦ πατρὸς τιμὴν καὶ δόξαν φωνῆς ἐνεχθείσης αὐτῷ τοιᾶσδε ὑπὸ τῆς μεγαλοπρεποῦς δόξης· ⸂ὁ υἱός μου ὁ ἀγαπητός μου οὗτός ἐστιν⸃ ⸄εἰς ὃν ἐγὼ⸅ εὐδόκησα* 18 καὶ ταύτην τὴν φωνὴν ἡμεῖς ἠκούσαμεν ⸀ἐξ οὐρανοῦ ἐνεχθεῖσαν σὺν αὐτῷ ὄντες ἐν τῷ ⸂ἁγίῳ ὄρει⸃.* 19 καὶ ἔχομεν βεβαιότερον τὸν προφητικὸν λόγον ᾧ καλῶς ποιεῖτε προσέχοντες ὡς λύχνῳ φαίνοντι ἐν αὐχμηρῷ τόπῳ,* ἕως οὗ ⸆ ἡμέρα διαυγάσῃ καὶ ⸀φωσφόρος ἀνατείλῃ ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ὑμῶν,* 20 τοῦτο πρῶτον γινώσκοντες ὅτι πᾶσα ⸂προφητεία γραφῆς⸃ ἰδίας ἐπιλύσεως οὐ γίνεται·* 21 οὐ γὰρ θελήματι ἀνθρώπου ἠνέχθη ♦⸂προφητεία ποτέ⸃,* ἀλλʼ ὑπὸ πνεύματος ἁγίου φερόμενοι ἐλάλησαν ⸄ἀπὸ θεοῦ⸅ ἄνθρωποι.)

Here Peter states that he and others were eyewitnesses providing their testimony of what Yeshua had done on their behalf. He says, “we ourselves heard this voice…” and Peter goes on saying that the prophetic message is completely reliable, and we would do well to pay attention to all of these things! The anthropomorphisms of God that are provided in the Scriptures are vitally important for us to comprehend the Lord. This is why He sent His Word into this world in Yeshua the Messiah (John 1:1-14) the word became flesh description, so that we would be able to know our Father in heaven. For example, John writes that “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.” (John 1:18). Paul wrote in Colossians 1:15, “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature” which demonstrates the Messiah’s primacy. In addition, the signs and wonders that Yeshua worked while here on earth demonstrated the power of God and demonstrated how much the Lord God our Father in heaven cares about us. It is by faith we believe, and when we believe in the Messiah, our Father in heaven sends His Holy Spirit to dwell with us in our hearts. And this is where the Lord solidifies our understanding, by His indwelling presence he makes known in our hearts so that we are without a doubt of the existence of God in heaven. In addition, Paul expresses how important the Torah is according to Romans 2:14-15 speaking of the Law of God being written on the hearts of gentiles even before they are given the Torah, this is given to all men so that one’s conscience and thoughts will direct one in doing right and feel guilty when doing something wrong. These are the observable phenomena that are indicative of God’s revealed character, of truth, life, righteousness, and as redeemer. Because of these things, it was appropriate for the Lord to manifest or reveal Himself in the deliverance of God’s people from Egypt, the very place where they are sending for help according to Isaiah 30. The point is they should be seeking help from above, from the Lord God Almighty. The leaders however were slanderers and so did not trust the words of Isaiah nor the word of God. When we read the scriptures, we see how the Lord God can provide help in many ways, via dreams, or via other men, or via a miraculous and powerful way! These things demonstrate why we maintain our faith, because it may seem that the Lord God is far away at times, but He can work very quickly in very powerful ways at any moment! The Scriptures help keep us on this path of faithfulness, believing that the Lord will work all things out for His purposes and for His glory!

Isaiah goes on saying the following according to Isaiah 30:28.

ספר ישעיה פרק ל
כח   וְרוּחוֹ כְּנַחַל שׁוֹטֵף עַד-צַוָּאר יֶחֱצֶה לַהֲנָפָה גוֹיִם בְּנָפַת שָׁוְא וְרֶסֶן מַתְעֶה עַל לְחָיֵי עַמִּים: 

Isaiah 30:28 states, “And his breath, as an overflowing stream, shall reach to the midst of the neck, to sift the nations with the sieve of vanity: and there shall be a bridle in the jaws of the people, causing them to err. (וְרוּחוֹ כְּנַחַל שׁוֹטֵף עַד-צַוָּאר יֶחֱצֶה לַהֲנָפָה גוֹיִם בְּנָפַת שָׁוְא וְרֶסֶן מַתְעֶה עַל לְחָיֵי עַמִּים)” Something that is very interesting what we are reading here in Isaiah 30:28, that the Lord God is וְרֶסֶן מַתְעֶה bridling error to the people, literally providing the imagery of the bridling of a horse. The bridle is used for control and to direct the horse where to go, and similarly it seems as if error is bridled so the people continue to walk in their evil ways. We note that this is the outcome of those who turn from the truth of God, they will continue in their error and there is no hope. This is the reason why those who believe in the woke, liberal, and LGBTQ ideaologies appear to be completely given to these things, even in the midst of logic and reason, there is a spiritual aspect of these physical things of which God is giving them over to these things to be completely consumed by them! This is where Paul got his understanding of these things in Romans chapter 1. Paul describes these things in the following way:

Romans 1:21–32
1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 1:23 And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four footed beasts, and creeping things. 1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 1:26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 1:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 1:29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 1:30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 1:31 Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. (KJV 21 διότι γνόντες τὸν θεὸν οὐχ ὡς θεὸν ἐδόξασαν ἢ ηὐχαρίστησαν, ἀλλʼ ἐματαιώθησαν ἐν τοῖς διαλογισμοῖς αὐτῶν καὶ ἐσκοτίσθη ἡ ἀσύνετος αὐτῶν καρδία*. 22 φάσκοντες εἶναι σοφοὶ ἐμωράνθησαν* 23 καὶ ⸀ἤλλαξαν τὴν δόξαν τοῦ ἀφθάρτου θεοῦ ἐν ὁμοιώματι εἰκόνος φθαρτοῦ ἀνθρώπου καὶ πετεινῶν καὶ τετραπόδων καὶ ἑρπετῶν*. 24 Διὸ ⸆ παρέδωκεν* αὐτοὺς ὁ θεὸς ἐν ταῖς ἐπιθυμίαις τῶν καρδιῶν αὐτῶν εἰς ἀκαθαρσίαν τοῦ ἀτιμάζεσθαι τὰ σώματα αὐτῶν ἐν* ⸀αὐτοῖς·* 25 οἵτινες μετήλλαξαν τὴν ἀλήθειαν τοῦ θεοῦ ἐν τῷ ψεύδει καὶ ἐσεβάσθησαν καὶ ἐλάτρευσαν τῇ κτίσει παρὰ τὸν κτίσαντα*, ὅς ἐστιν εὐλογητὸς εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας, ἀμήν*. 26 Διὰ τοῦτο παρέδωκεν αὐτοὺς ὁ θεὸς εἰς πάθη ἀτιμίας*, αἵ τε γὰρ θήλειαι αὐτῶν μετήλλαξαν τὴν φυσικὴν ⸀χρῆσιν εἰς τὴν παρὰ φύσιν⸆, 27 ὁμοίως ⸀τε καὶ οἱ ἄρσενες ἀφέντες τὴν φυσικὴν χρῆσιν τῆς θηλείας ἐξεκαύθησαν ἐν τῇ ὀρέξει αὐτῶν εἰς ἀλλήλους, ἄρσενες ἐν ἄρσεσιν τὴν ἀσχημοσύνην κατεργαζόμενοι καὶ τὴν ἀντιμισθίαν ἣν ἔδει τῆς πλάνης αὐτῶν ἐν ⸁ἑαυτοῖς ⸀1ἀπολαμβάνοντες*. 28 Καὶ καθὼς οὐκ ἐδοκίμασαν τὸν θεὸν ἔχειν ἐν ἐπιγνώσει, παρέδωκεν αὐτοὺς ⸋ὁ θεὸς⸌ εἰς ἀδόκιμον νοῦν*, ποιεῖν τὰ μὴ καθήκοντα*, 29 πεπληρωμένους πάσῃ ἀδικίᾳ ⸂πονηρίᾳ πλεονεξίᾳ κακίᾳ⸃, μεστοὺς φθόνου φόνου ἔριδος °δόλου κακοηθείας, ψιθυριστὰς 30 ⸀καταλάλους θεοστυγεῖς ὑβριστὰς ὑπερηφάνους ἀλαζόνας, ἐφευρετὰς κακῶν, γονεῦσιν ἀπειθεῖς, 31 ἀσυνέτους ἀσυνθέτους ἀστόργους ⸆ ἀνελεήμονας·* 32 οἵτινες τὸ δικαίωμα τοῦ θεοῦ ⸀ἐπιγνόντες ⸆ ὅτι οἱ τὰ τοιαῦτα πράσσοντες ἄξιοι θανάτου εἰσίν, οὐ μόνον ⸇ ⸂αὐτὰ ποιοῦσιν ἀλλὰ καὶ συνευδοκοῦσιν⸃ τοῖς πράσσουσιν*.)

Notice how Paul lays out the situation, they refuse to glorify God, they profess themselves to be wise, they are involved in idolatry, they dishonor their bodies and draw near to unrighteousness, sexual sin, corruption, and they give up logical natural relationships for abnormal and strange relationships, etc. Do these things describe what we see going on today in our modern culture? Paul writes that because they refused to retain the knowledge of God, because doing so would lead to exposing their sins, God gives them over to their error. This is exactly what we see Isaiah saying, and this is exactly what we see going on today! It is easy to see how relevant all of God’s word is for us today, especially in this evil world that we live in today! Isaiah writes “And his breath, as an overflowing stream, shall reach to the midst of the neck, to sift the nations” depicting the Lord God coming upon the clouds to visit the nations in their iniquity. Those who draw near to the living waters, but hold onto the ways of the world, will be quickly swept away along with the enemies of God. This is exactly the situation that Yeshua describes according to Matthew 7 in the final day. The idea is that one may feel their ideologies have nothing to do with their faith and relationship with God, but be forewarned, the consequences will be poured out when one least suspects! We note that parallel to trusting in Egypt, and doing so leads only to oppression and discontent and the lack of peace. We note that many of those who do these things, feel that God is too far away to be considered practical for help and so trusting in self is weightier and then respond to the call of God in their lives by turning their back on Him. Isaiah says עַד־צַוָּ֣אר יֶֽחֱצֶ֔ה “until the neck is divided” draws in the idea of the waters being deep, even life threatening just like turbulent flood waters can be for those who are caught in them. The point is that sin leads to destruction, and as the flood waters, there is no way to stop the force of water that comes, one is literally dragged away with the flood waters being forced to go in the direction of the water with the high probability of death as the end result. This again is how Isaiah is describing the outcome of sin, and what Paul is saying concerning these very same things when one holds onto sin and is unrepentant. 

Isaiah goes on saying the following according to Isaiah 30:29.

ספר ישעיה פרק ל
כט   הַשִּׁיר יִהְיֶה לָכֶם כְּלֵיל הִתְקַדֶּשׁ-חָג וְשִֹמְחַת לֵבָב כַּהוֹלֵךְ בֶּחָלִיל לָבוֹא בְהַר-יְהֹוָה אֶל-צוּר יִשְֹרָאֵל: 

Isaiah 30:29 states, “Ye shall have a song, as in the night when a holy solemnity is kept; and gladness of heart, as when one goeth with a pipe to come into the mountain of the LORD, to the mighty One of Israel. (הַשִּׁיר יִהְיֶה לָכֶם כְּלֵיל הִתְקַדֶּשׁ-חָג וְשִֹמְחַת לֵבָב כַּהוֹלֵךְ בֶּחָלִיל לָבוֹא בְהַר-יְהֹוָה אֶל-צוּר יִשְֹרָאֵל)” When we see the Lord do something to provide victory or overcoming, such as the enemy not getting their way, this brings rejoicing from within. (Isaiah 9:1-3) This is the concept of having the joy of the Lord, of walking in victory, living our lives for His glory, and when we consider the Torah perspective, we are reminded of the feasts which were given as times of rejoicing and remembrance of God’s great deliverance and victory throughout this history of Israel. The point is that the people turned from the Lord because they thought that He could not help them. This abandoning the Word of God and from trusting in God leads to destruction. Despite when one turns from the Lord, the Lord God is always seeking for our return and this is how Isaiah views the outcome of Judah and Jerusalem rebellion, those who are rebellious will perish, and those who are righteous will survive. Note how despite the Lord God bringing the Assyrians and the Babylonians, and all that has happened throughout history, yet Israel remains. This is a testimony to the promises of God to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This reveals that it is not the Lord God Almighty who abandoned the people, but the people themselves. In fact, even when the people abandoned the Lord, He always sent prophets to call them back to repentance and turning from sin. When one turns and repents, then there is great rejoicing in the Lord because of the realization of His great mercy and grace! The Joy of the Lord may be compared to the feasts, which is easy to understand, considering Pesach (Passover) and the deliverance of God that is connected to this feast of God. 

Isaiah goes on saying the following according to Isaiah 30:30-31.

ספר ישעיה פרק ל
ל   וְהִשְׁמִיעַ יְהֹוָה אֶת-הוֹד קוֹלוֹ וְנַחַת זְרוֹעוֹ יַרְאֶה בְּזַעַף אַף וְלַהַב אֵשׁ אוֹכֵלָה נֶפֶץ וָזֶרֶם וְאֶבֶן בָּרָד: לא   כִּי-מִקּוֹל יְהֹוָה יֵחַת אַשּׁוּר בַּשֵּׁבֶט יַכֶּה: לב   וְהָיָה כֹּל מַעֲבַר מַטֵּה מוּסָדָה אֲשֶׁר יָנִיחַ יְהֹוָה עָלָיו בְּתֻפִּים וּבְכִנֹּרוֹת וּבְמִלְחֲמוֹת תְּנוּפָה נִלְחַם-בָּה [בָּם]: 

Isaiah 30:30 states, “And the LORD shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and shall shew the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, and tempest, and hailstones. (וְהִשְׁמִיעַ יְהֹוָה אֶת-הוֹד קוֹלוֹ וְנַחַת זְרוֹעוֹ יַרְאֶה בְּזַעַף אַף וְלַהַב אֵשׁ אוֹכֵלָה נֶפֶץ וָזֶרֶם וְאֶבֶן בָּרָד)” Isaiah 30:31 “For through the voice of the LORD shall the Assyrian be beaten down, which smote with a rod. (כִּי-מִקּוֹל יְהֹוָה יֵחַת אַשּׁוּר בַּשֵּׁבֶט יַכֶּה)” Isaiah 30:32 “And in every place where the grounded staff shall pass, which the LORD shall lay upon him, it shall be with tabrets and harps: and in battles of shaking will he fight with it. (וְהָיָה כֹּל מַעֲבַר מַטֵּה מוּסָדָה אֲשֶׁר יָנִיחַ יְהֹוָה עָלָיו בְּתֻפִּים וּבְכִנֹּרוֹת וּבְמִלְחֲמוֹת תְּנוּפָה נִלְחַם-בָּה)” Here we are told how the the voice of God is heard and it is glorious. At the time of matan Torah, all of the nation heard the voice of God according to Shemot / Exodus 20:18-19 [20:15-16].

ספר שמות פרק כ
טו   וְכָל-הָעָם רֹאִים אֶת-הַקּוֹלֹת וְאֶת-הַלַּפִּידִם וְאֵת קוֹל הַשֹּׁפָר וְאֶת-הָהָר עָשֵׁן וַיַּרְא הָעָם וַיָּנֻעוּ וַיַּעַמְדוּ מֵרָחֹק: טז   וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֶל-מֹשֶׁה דַּבֶּר-אַתָּה עִמָּנוּ וְנִשְׁמָעָה וְאַל-יְדַבֵּר עִמָּנוּ אֱלֹהִים פֶּן-נָמוּת: 

Shemot / Exodus 20:18–19
20:18 And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. 20:19 And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die. (KJV)

Here the people stood at the foot of the mountain of Sinai and heard the voice of God and they were terrified. They asked Moshe to speak to them as opposed to God Himself or they would die. The Torah goes on to validate what had happened here in Shemot / Exodus 20:18-19 stating the following according to Devarim / Deuteronomy 4:9-13, 4:32-36, 5:1-4.

Devarim / Deuteronomy 4:9–13
4:9 Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons; 4:10 Specially the day that thou stoodest before the Lord thy God in Horeb, when the Lord said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children. 4:11 And ye came near and stood under the mountain; and the mountain burned with fire unto the midst of heaven, with darkness, clouds, and thick darkness. 4:12 And the Lord spake unto you out of the midst of the fire: ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude; only ye heard a voice. 4:13 And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone. (KJV ט   רַק הִשָּׁמֶר לְךָ וּשְׁמֹר נַפְשְׁךָ מְאֹד פֶּן-תִּשְׁכַּח אֶת-הַדְּבָרִים אֲשֶׁר-רָאוּ עֵינֶיךָ וּפֶן-יָסוּרוּ מִלְּבָבְךָ כֹּל יְמֵי חַיֶּיךָ וְהוֹדַעְתָּם לְבָנֶיךָ וְלִבְנֵי בָנֶיךָ: י   יוֹם אֲשֶׁר עָמַדְתָּ לִפְנֵי יְהוָֹה אֱלֹהֶיךָ בְּחֹרֵב בֶּאֱמֹר יְהֹוָה אֵלַי הַקְהֶל-לִי אֶת-הָעָם וְאַשְׁמִעֵם אֶת-דְּבָרָי אֲשֶׁר יִלְמְדוּן לְיִרְאָה אֹתִי כָּל-הַיָּמִים אֲשֶׁר הֵם חַיִּים עַל-הָאֲדָמָה וְאֶת-בְּנֵיהֶם יְלַמֵּדוּן: יא   וַתִּקְרְבוּן וַתַּעַמְדוּן תַּחַת הָהָר וְהָהָר בֹּעֵר בָּאֵשׁ עַד-לֵב הַשָּׁמַיִם חשֶׁךְ עָנָן וַעֲרָפֶל: יב   וַיְדַבֵּר יְהוָֹה אֲלֵיכֶם מִתּוֹךְ הָאֵשׁ קוֹל דְּבָרִים אַתֶּם שֹׁמְעִים וּתְמוּנָה אֵינְכֶם רֹאִים זוּלָתִי קוֹל: יג   וַיַּגֵּד לָכֶם אֶת-בְּרִיתוֹ אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה אֶתְכֶם לַעֲשֹוֹת עֲשֶֹרֶת הַדְּבָרִים וַיִּכְתְּבֵם עַל-שְׁנֵי לֻחוֹת אֲבָנִים:)

Devarim / Deuteronomy 4:32–36
4:32 For ask now of the days that are past, which were before thee, since the day that God created man upon the earth, and ask from the one side of heaven unto the other, whether there hath been any such thing as this great thing is, or hath been heard like it? 4:33 Did ever people hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as thou hast heard, and live? 4:34 Or hath God assayed to go and take him a nation from the midst of another nation, by temptations, by signs, and by wonders, and by war, and by a mighty hand, and by a stretched out arm, and by great terrors, according to all that the Lord your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes? 4:35 Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the Lord he is God; there is none else beside him. 4:36 Out of heaven he made thee to hear his voice, that he might instruct thee: and upon earth he shewed thee his great fire; and thou heardest his words out of the midst of the fire. (KJV לב   כִּי שְׁאַל-נָא לְיָמִים רִאשֹׁנִים אֲשֶׁר-הָיוּ לְפָנֶיךָ לְמִן-הַיּוֹם אֲשֶׁר בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים | אָדָם עַל-הָאָרֶץ וּלְמִקְצֵה הַשָּׁמַיִם וְעַד-קְצֵה הַשָּׁמָיִם הֲנִהְיָה כַּדָּבָר הַגָּדוֹל הַזֶּה אוֹ הֲנִשְׁמַע כָּמֹהוּ: לג   הֲשָׁמַע עָם קוֹל אֱלֹהִים מְדַבֵּר מִתּוֹךְ-הָאֵשׁ כַּאֲשֶׁר-שָׁמַעְתָּ אַתָּה וַיֶּחִי: לד   אוֹ | הֲנִסָּה אֱלֹהִים לָבוֹא לָקַחַת לוֹ גוֹי מִקֶּרֶב גּוֹי בְּמַסֹּת בְּאֹתֹת וּבְמוֹפְתִים וּבְמִלְחָמָה וּבְיָד חֲזָקָה וּבִזְרוֹעַ נְטוּיָה וּבְמוֹרָאִים גְּדֹלִים כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר-עָשָֹה לָכֶם יְהוָֹה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם בְּמִצְרַיִם לְעֵינֶיךָ: לה   אַתָּה הָרְאֵתָ לָדַעַת כִּי יְהוָֹה הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים אֵין עוֹד מִלְּבַדּוֹ: לו   מִן-הַשָּׁמַיִם הִשְׁמִיעֲךָ אֶת-קֹלוֹ לְיַסְּרֶךָּ וְעַל-הָאָרֶץ הֶרְאֲךָ אֶת-אִשּׁוֹ הַגְּדוֹלָה וּדְבָרָיו שָׁמַעְתָּ מִתּוֹךְ הָאֵשׁ:)

Devarim / Deuteronomy 5:1–4
5:1 And Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them. 5:2 The Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. 5:3 The Lord made not this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day. 5:4 The Lord talked with you face to face in the mount out of the midst of the fire, (KJV א   וַיִּקְרָא מֹשֶׁה אֶל-כָּל-יִשְֹרָאֵל וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם שְׁמַע יִשְֹרָאֵל אֶת-הַחֻקִּים וְאֶת-הַמִּשְׁפָּטִים אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי דֹּבֵר בְּאָזְנֵיכֶם הַיּוֹם וּלְמַדְתֶּם אֹתָם וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם לַעֲשֹֹתָם: ב   יְהוָֹה אֱלֹהֵינוּ כָּרַת עִמָּנוּ בְּרִית בְּחֹרֵב: ג   לֹא אֶת-אֲבֹתֵינוּ כָּרַת יְהוָֹה אֶת-הַבְּרִית הַזֹּאת כִּי אִתָּנוּ אֲנַחְנוּ אֵלֶּה פֹה הַיּוֹם כֻּלָּנוּ חַיִּים: ד   פָּנִים | בְּפָנִים דִּבֶּר יְהוָֹה עִמָּכֶם בָּהָר מִתּוֹךְ הָאֵשׁ:)

Three times here Moshe repeats פָּנִים | בְּפָנִים דִּבֶּר יְהוָֹה עִמָּכֶם בָּהָר מִתּוֹךְ הָאֵשׁ that God spoke to the people from the midst of the fire face to face. There is no doubt what happened at the mountain of Sinai, and the emphasis is placed upon hearing God’s voice. The intent is literal here, from the text in Shemot / Exodus followed by Moshe reiterating this point three times in Devarim / Deuteronomy. The Lord God is powerful to redeem His people, and we likewise are to cast all of our hope upon Him forsaking our own abilities and actions. The Lord God Almighty is the one who is in control, and He wants to speak to us, therefore we should be attentive to listen to His voice! A text comparison reveals the following according to the LXX and the TgJ on Isaiah 30:30-32.

The TgJ translates saying, 30 And the Lord shall proclaim the brightness of the voice of His WORD, and He shall reveal the strength of His arm in the fury of His anger, and in flames of fire, destroying the graven images with scattering, and storm, and hailstones. 31 For through the voice of the WORD of the Lord the Assyrian shall be broken, he that smote by his power. 32 And it shall come to pass, that the Lord shall cause to rest the vengeance of His might in every pass of their princes and mighty ones, even amongst them. The house of Israel shall praise with tabrets and harps, because of the mighty war which shall be waged for them against the people. (TgJ) We note how the text writes the Lord will proclaim the “brightness” (זִיו) of the voice of His Word (קָל מֵימְרֵיה); here the brightness is a reference to the splendor and glory of God. What is the splendor and glory of God? The glory and splendor of God is His righteousness! It is His righteousness that is all consuming. We note that the reason a man cannot stand before God and live is because of our sinfulness and His utter righteousness and holiness. The destruction comes to those who hold on to their idols, and a reference to Assyria being devastated due to their wickedness, and that destruction will come in many ways, as a scattering, a storm, hailstones, or foreign armies, etc. The LXX translates saying, 30 καὶ ἀκουστὴν ποιήσει ὁ θεὸς τὴν δόξαν τῆς φωνῆς αὐτοῦ καὶ τὸν θυμὸν τοῦ βραχίονος αὐτοῦ δείξει μετὰ θυμοῦ καὶ ὀργῆς καὶ φλογὸς κατεσθιούσης, κεραυνώσει βιαίως καὶ ὡς ὕδωρ καὶ χάλαζα συγκαταφερομένη βίᾳ. 31 διὰ γὰρ φωνὴν κυρίου ἡττηθήσονται Ἀσσύριοι τῇ πληγῇ, ἧ ἂν πατάξῃ αὐτούς. 32 καὶ ἔσται αὐτῷ κυκλόθεν, ὅθεν ἦν αὐτῷ ἡ ἐλπὶς τῆς βοηθείας, ἐφʼ ἧ αὐτὸς ἐπεποίθει, αὐτοὶ μετὰ αὐλῶν καὶ κιθάρας πολεμήσουσιν αὐτὸν ἐκ μεταβολῆς. 30 And the Lord will make the glory of his voice heard, even to display the wrath of his arm with wrath and anger and a devouring flame. He will thunder with violence even like water and hail carried down together with force. 31 For through the Lord’s voice the Assyrians will be defeated by the blow with which he strikes them. 32 And for him it will be all around, whence was their hope of aid, that he himself trusted; they will make war on him with tambourines and lyres, by way of a change. (LES) The general sense of these verses speak of God’s judgment going forth due to the sinfulness of man and man’s unwillingness to repent. The end result for God’s people is the joy of the Lord for deliverance, and these things are reminiscent of the written record in דברי הימים the Chronicles and Jehoshaphat’s defeat of the Edomites (see 2 Chronicles 20:13-30). In this account the might and power of God come through praise where Israel only needed to praise God in confidence to receive the benefits of his power. Should this not be the approach that we take in our lives today? The point is that regardless of nation, tribe, or tongue, everyone is in God’s hands to do with as He pleases! Isaiah emphasizes God’s power here to overcome the evil forces in this world, and that the Lord God of Israel is our only hope! 

Isaiah concludes chapter 30 saying the following according to Isaiah 30:33.

ספר ישעיה פרק ל
לג   כִּי-עָרוּךְ מֵאֶתְמוּל תָּפְתֶּה גַּם-הִוא [הִיא] לַמֶּלֶךְ הוּכָן הֶעְמִיק הִרְחִב מְדֻרָתָהּ אֵשׁ וְעֵצִים הַרְבֵּה נִשְׁמַת יְהֹוָה כְּנַחַל גָּפְרִית בֹּעֲרָה בָּהּ:

Isaiah 30:33 states, “For Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; he hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the LORD, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it. (כִּי-עָרוּךְ מֵאֶתְמוּל תָּפְתֶּה גַּם-הִוא [הִיא] לַמֶּלֶךְ הוּכָן הֶעְמִיק הִרְחִב מְדֻרָתָהּ אֵשׁ וְעֵצִים הַרְבֵּה נִשְׁמַת יְהֹוָה כְּנַחַל גָּפְרִית בֹּעֲרָה בָּהּ)” Here the references to Tophet (תָּפְתֶּה) may be a reference to the site in the Valley of Hinnom just outside of Jerusalem. This site is associated with child sacrifices to the deity Moloch, an ancient Canaanite god. This is a very important point that should be pretty obvious why the God of Israel commanded that these people groups who served Baal, Chemosh, and Moloch, each of which involved human sacrifice be utterly destroyed including their religious practices. I have read in books about liberal theologians who claim that this was an evil thing that God had commanded Israel to do. This point again about liberal and woke ideologies, those who hold these positions do not have the ability to reason or even understand the significance of why these nations had to be utterly destroyed. The reason again is due to what we are reading here in Isaiah, that God gives them over to mental illness because they warp and twist God’s word to fit into their opinions and ideologies. I have been involved with liberals for years and have argued for years over these topics and there is always something that just seems to be missing or lacking in the mental and emotional reasoning so that there is no getting through to those who hold these ideologies. This is proof of what Isaiah is saying here regarding God giving them over to these things. This giving over leads to greater and greater levels of sinfulness and even to the approval of those who sin encouraging others to sin and disobey and turn their backs upon God in heaven! We note again how human sacrifice was a part of these ancient Canaanite religions and in this case, babies were burned upon the hands of Molech. (2 Kings 23:10, Jeremiah 19:6) Is there any question why God absolutely had to command Israel to destroy these nations? Commonsense! So here the parallel may be to the nation that is invading burning in this valley of Hinnom below Jerusalem. Later on, this area became a waste dump where trash and waste were burned. Yeshua uses this place as a description of the fires of hell which never go out, they are always burning where both the flame and the worm that causes torment never die. This concept of sacrifice draws in this concept of men being burned to death who worship these false gods, or who create idols for themselves. These things are very significant for our lives today! There is overwhelming evidence of these truths today since the very same things are in taking place that we see going on in Isaiah’s day! We note why Isaiah is chiding the people here due to their desire to turn to Egypt out of fear of other nations. This concept of turning to Egypt is filled with so much history, and so many concepts, such as idolatry, turning from God’s ways, turning from God’s word, returning to sin, looking to false gods, looking to the strength of the flesh (the body), turning to unnatural relations, bestiality, immorality, homosexual relationships, wastefulness, wealth and lasciviousness, all of the things are the ways of the nations! It is easy to observe how the Creator God, the God of Israel, His holy ways elevate us, they raise us up above the standards of the world. The text comparison reveals the following Rabbinic interpretation on these things.

The TgJ interprets this to say the following, אְרֵי מְסֻדְרָא מִן עָלְמִין לָקֳבֵיל חֹובֵיהֹון גֵיהִנָם אַף הִיא מַלַך עָלְמַיָא אַתקְנַה לְעַמָקָא וּלאַפתָאָה מְדֹורַה אִישָתָא דָלְקָא בַה כִיד בְאָעִין סַגִיאִין מֵימְרָא דַיוי כִנחַל מְגַבַר גָפרִית דָלְקָא בַה׃ 33 For hell is made ready from eternity on account of their sins; yea, the eternal King hath prepared it deep and wide: a fiery pyre as of abundance of fuel burns in it: the WORD of the Lord, like an overwhelming torrent of brimstone, shall kindle it. (TgJ) The significance of this interpretation is in the word גֵיהִנָם which means “hell” is a place prepared for those on account of their sins! We note how Judaism does in fact have this concept of Hell. גֵיהִנָם is used all throughout the rabbinic literature, all one has to do is look. For example, look at Midrash Tehillim https://www.matsati.com/index.php/midrash-tehillim/ on the Psalms at the first 20 chapters from the Psalms, גֵיהִנָם is everywhere, and there is even discussion on Israel descending into גֵיהִנָם and the God of Israel going with them and delivering the people up out of the flames due to His great mercy! The point is that we do not serve an “angry” God. We serve a loving and merciful God! The blessings and the curses that come are on our shoulders, whether we are willing to humble ourselves and turn from the ways of this world and seek the God in heaven or not! Once we do these things, turning to the Lord God Almighty and His Messiah for help, He sends His Holy Spirit to dwell in our hearts and empower us to overcome! What this means is that we absolutely must turn from the ways of the world which are paralleled to human sacrifice and idolatry! We must deny the alluring call of the modern ideologies that cause one to be utterly lost to the truth of God and His Holy and Righteous ways! We must turn to faith in the Messiah Yeshua seeking help from our Father in Heaven to be delivered from the ways of Egypt and all of the bodily sensualities that are associated with the ways of the Egyptians and turn to the God of Israel for salvation, deliverance, and the strength to overcome this world! The closer we get to the One True God and to His Messiah Yeshua, the more victory we will see in our lives, and find deliverance from this evil world that we live in! 

Rabbinic Commentary

The Targum Jonathan is an Aramaic and Rabbinic translation and therefore is a valuable resource for our continued study of the book of Isaiah.

תרגום יונתן בן עוזיאל אל ישעיה פרק ל:כח-לג
כח  וּמֵימְרֵיה כִנחַל מְגַבַר עַד צַוָאר תַקִיפִין יְקַטֵיל לַאְרָמָא עַמְמַיָא בְרָמוּת רֵיקָנוּ וּזמָם דִטעֹו בְלֵיסַת עַמְמַיָא׃ כט  תוּשבְחָא תְהֵי לְכֹון כְלֵיליָא דְאִתקַדַש בֵיה חַגָא וְחַדוַת לִיבָא כְמָא דְנָגְדִין בְתֹורְתָא וּבַאְבוּבָא לְמֵיעַל בְטוּר קֻדשָא דַיוי לְאִתַחזָאָה קֳדָם תַקִיפָא דְיִשרָאֵל׃ ל  וְיַשמַע יוי יָת זִיו קָל מֵימְרֵיה וּתקֹוף דְרָע גְבוּרְתֵיה יְגַלֵי בִתקֹוף רְגַז וְשַלהֹובִי אִישָא דִמשֵיצְיָא פְסִילָן וְזָרָמִית וְאַבנִין דִברַד׃ לא  אְרֵי מִקָל מֵימְרָא דַיוי מִתְבַר אַתוּרָאָה דִבשֻלטָן מָחֵי׃ לב  וִיהֵי כָל מִעבַר רַברְבֵיהֹון וְתַקִיפֵיהֹון דִינִיַח יוי פֹורעָנוּת גְבוּרְתֵיה בֵינֵיהֹון בְתוּפִין וּבכִנָרִין יְשַבְחוּן בֵית יִשרָאֵל עַל קְרָבָא תַקִיפָא דְיִתעְבֵיד לְהֹון בְעַמְמַיָא׃ לג  אְרֵי מְסֻדְרָא מִן עָלְמִין לָקֳבֵיל חֹובֵיהֹון גֵיהִנָם אַף הִיא מַלַך עָלְמַיָא אַתקְנַה לְעַמָקָא וּלאַפתָאָה מְדֹורַה אִישָתָא דָלְקָא בַה כִיד בְאָעִין סַגִיאִין מֵימְרָא דַיוי כִנחַל מְגַבַר גָפרִית דָלְקָא בַה׃

Targum Jonathan son of Uziel Isaiah 30:28-33
30:28 And His word is as an overwhelming river reaching unto the neck: He shall slay the mighty; He will assuredly agitate the nations with the agitation of vanity: and there shall be a bridle of error in the jaws of the people. 30:29 Ye shall have a song as in the night, as in the night when the festival is sanctified with joy of heart, as when they march with thanksgivings and the pipe, to enter the holy mountain of the Lord, to appear before the mighty One of Israel. 30:30 And the Lord shall proclaim the brightness of the voice of His WORD, and He shall reveal the strength of His arm in the fury of His anger, and in flames of fire, destroying the graven images with scattering, and storm, and hailstones. 30:31 For through the voice of the WORD of the Lord the Assyrian shall be broken, he that smote by his power. 30:32 And it shall come to pass, that the Lord shall cause to rest the vengeance of His might in every pass of their princes and mighty ones, even amongst them. The house of Israel shall praise with tabrets and harps, because of the mighty war which shall be waged for them against the people. 30:33 For hell is made ready from eternity on account of their sins; yea, the eternal King hath prepared it deep and wide: a fiery pyre as of abundance of fuel burns in it: the WORD of the Lord, like an overwhelming torrent of brimstone, shall kindle it. (TgJ)

Isaiah speaks of a river reaching up to the neck, of God slaying the mighty, and the nations being bridled with error and arrogance. A river is analogous to a powerful force which is almost impossible to stand up against. This draws on the imagery of floods and how people, trees, cars, and even buildings are moved by the force of uncontrolled water. This is the type of imagery which describes the error of the days of Isaiah and today. כח  וּמֵימְרֵיה כִנחַל מְגַבַר עַד צַוָאר תַקִיפִין יְקַטֵיל לַאְרָמָא עַמְמַיָא בְרָמוּת רֵיקָנוּ וּזמָם דִטעֹו בְלֵיסַת עַמְמַיָא׃ 30:28 And His word is as an overwhelming river reaching unto the neck: He shall slay the mighty; He will assuredly agitate the nations with the agitation of vanity: and there shall be a bridle of error in the jaws of the people. (TgJ) Error is a state or quality of being wrong. What exactly does it mean to be in error (בשגויה)? The idea (הרעיון) of error is connected to the Torah in relation to making a mistake, sin, transgression, fault, blunder, stumbling and a deviation from the truth. Mathematically speaking, a calculation done in error will result in a wrong answer. It won’t be rewarded with a positive (חִיּוּבִי) but a negative (שלִּיל) score. Today however under the opinions of the woke liberal ideologies, logic and reason go out the door! Negatives are positives and positives are negatives, men can be women and women can be men, and there are even men posing in women’s beauty pageants, etc., the world and truth has gone completely off the rails under these ideologies! Likewise, anyone who serves and worships God in error, meaning that he does not rightly divide the Word of God and apply the word to one’s life, then he or she walks in error (אז הם הולכים בשגויות). This is why it is so important for us to study God’s word so that we can know the truth and not walk in error! Midrash Tanchuma and Ibn Ezra write the following concerning this verse.

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Pekudei 8,5
יפה נוף וגו’. ר’ לוי אמר נאה היא לעצמה, שהיא מניפה לאומות העולם, שנאמר להנפה גוים בנפת שוא ורסן מתעה על לחיי עמים (ישעיה ל כח). (Ps. 48:3 [2]:) BEAUTEOUS LANDSCAPE (NWP)…. R. Levi said: <Jerusalem> is beautiful (N’P) in itself, because it sifts (rt.: NPH) the peoples of the world.³⁸Cf.: PR 41:2. Thus it is stated (in Is. 30:28): TO SIFT (HNPH) THE NATIONS WITH THE SIEVE (rt.: NPH) OF DESTRUCTION, AND A MISLEADING BRIDLE SHALL BE IN THE JAWS OF THE PEOPLES.

Ibn Ezra on Isaiah 30,28 Part 2 
להנפה. Most of the commentaries say that להנפה is the same as להניף, to wave;⁴⁶A. V., To sift with the sieve of vanity.⁴⁶A. V., To sift with the sieve of vanity. but R. Moses Hakkohen is of opinion, that it means to bridle, and that by the breath of God, the false spirit, described by Micaiah (1 Kgs. 22:19—23) is to be understood; and this is the right explanation. And there shall be a bridle in the jaws of the people, causing them to err. The bridle is put in the mouth of the horse, to make it go the right way, but the spirit mentioned here, will be רסן מתעה a misleading bridle. The same idea is expressed by ,בנפת שוא and this proves that להנפה has the meaning to bridle.

The Midrash speaks of the destruction of nations due to this misleading bridle. Ibn Ezra says that this is the breath of God, or a false spirit sent from God, that leads to the error of the people. We note this is something that God gives to wicked people, just as the example of King Ahab from the Tanakh. There is a direct biblical example of this from 1 Kings 22:19-23 in regard to this thing that God is doing to mislead the wicked. 

1 Kings 22:19–23
22:19 And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left. 22:20 And the Lord said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner. 22:21 And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the Lord, and said, I will persuade him. 22:22 And the Lord said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so. 22:23 Now therefore, behold, the Lord hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the Lord hath spoken evil concerning thee. (KJV וַיֹּ֕אמֶר לָכֵ֖ן שְׁמַ֣ע דְּבַר־יְהוָ֑ה רָאִ֤יתִי אֶת־יְהוָה֙ יֹשֵׁ֣ב עַל־כִּסְאֹ֔ו וְכָל־צְבָ֤א הַשָּׁמַ֨יִם֙ עֹמֵ֣ד עָלָ֔יו מִימִינֹ֖ו וּמִשְּׂמֹאלֹֽו׃ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהוָ֗ה מִ֤י יְפַתֶּה֙ אֶת־אַחְאָ֔ב וְיַ֕עַל וְיִפֹּ֖ל בְּרָמֹ֣ת גִּלְעָ֑ד וַיֹּ֤אמֶר זֶה֙ בְּכֹ֔ה וְזֶ֥ה אֹמֵ֖ר בְּכֹֽה׃ וַיֵּצֵ֣א הָר֗וּחַ וַֽיַּעֲמֹד֙ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אֲנִ֣י אֲפַתֶּ֑נּוּ וַיֹּ֧אמֶר יְהוָ֛ה אֵלָ֖יו בַּמָּֽה׃ וַיֹּ֗אמֶר אֵצֵא֙ וְהָיִ֨יתִי֙ ר֣וּחַ שֶׁ֔קֶר בְּפִ֖י כָּל־נְבִיאָ֑יו וַיֹּ֗אמֶר תְּפַתֶּה֙ וְגַם־תּוּכָ֔ל צֵ֖א וַעֲשֵׂה־כֵֽן׃ וְעַתָּ֗ה הִנֵּ֨ה נָתַ֤ן יְהוָה֙ ר֣וּחַ שֶׁ֔קֶר בְּפִ֖י כָּל־נְבִיאֶ֣יךָ אֵ֑לֶּה וַֽיהוָ֔ה דִּבֶּ֥ר עָלֶ֖יךָ רָעָֽה׃)

We remember who wicked Ahab and his wife Jezebel were and their lives, for example, Ahab killed a man just because he wanted his vineyard. Jezebel his wife actually was the one who set up the situation for the owner of the field to be stoned to death so her husband Ahab could have the vineyard. Both Jezebel and Ahab were involved in Baal worship and causing the people to disobey the word of God. Here in 1 Kings 22:19-23 we read that God sent a lying spirit into the mouth of the prophets of Ahab so that he would go to war and die in the war because of His sins. The point of these things that relate to us today is how there are so many people who are drunk with a spirit of error in relation to the woke and liberal ideologies! These ideologies are very alluring. We need to resist the desire to be united with anyone that would cause us to join in their error that they themselves are enslaved to. The Torah teaches us that we are not to have fellowship with someone who is living in sin or hold onto ideologies that are sinful. Hanging around such people will eventually lead to becoming a participant in their error. We are called to warn others to abolish the practice of evil and consecrate ourselves for the service of God. The way we do this is through repentance and turning from sin, and seeking the Lord God in heaven and His Messiah, and washing ourselves in the Word of God such that we are a people who are set apart for the Lord! These are very relevant things for us today! We note that the study of God’s word should not be simply relegated to something that is “interesting” (מעניין) but is for the purpose of transforming our lives! When our lives are transformed, then there is rejoicing in the power of God that is alive and present today for this purpose. This is how Isaiah continues according to Isaiah 30:29, כט  תוּשבְחָא תְהֵי לְכֹון כְלֵיליָא דְאִתקַדַש בֵיה חַגָא וְחַדוַת לִיבָא כְמָא דְנָגְדִין בְתֹורְתָא וּבַאְבוּבָא לְמֵיעַל בְטוּר קֻדשָא דַיוי לְאִתַחזָאָה קֳדָם תַקִיפָא דְיִשרָאֵל׃ 30:29 Ye shall have a song as in the night, as in the night when the festival is sanctified with joy of heart, as when they march with thanksgivings and the pipe, to enter the holy mountain of the Lord, to appear before the mighty One of Israel. (TgJ) Here Isaiah draws in the idea (הָרַעְיוֹן) of the festival of the Lord which sanctified or separated (הבדל) the people from the rest of Egypt. Rashi writes about this in the following way:

Rashi on Isaiah 30,29 Parts 1-3
השיר יהיה לכם. בליל הפסח תבא לכם שמחה זו: This song shall be to you On the night of Passover shall this joy come to you.
כליל התקדש חג. כמו שאמרת’ שיר של הפסחים במצרים ונראה מקרא זה כאילו בא ללמד על סנחרב ולימד על פרעה שאמרו הלל בליל אכילת פסחים מדרש תהלים: as the night of the sanctification of the festival Just as you recited a song over the Paschal sacrifices in Egypt [It appears from this verse as though he wishes to teach us about Sennacherib, but he teaches us about Pharaoh, that they recited Hallel on the night of the eating of the Paschal sacrifices. In Midrash Tehillim (1:20)].
כהולך בחליל. ותשמחו במפלת סנחריב כשמחת מביאי ביכורים שהיה החליל מכה לפניהם לבוא בהר ה’, כמו ששנינו במס’ בכורים: like one who goes with a flute And you shall rejoice with the downfall of Sennacherib like the joy of those who bring the First Fruits, before whom the flute would play, to come upon the mountain of God, as we learned in Tractate Bikkurim (3:4).

Here Rashi draws out the festival as being the Passover and the lamb of God setting the people free from bondage and sin. The NT draws a parallel to the “Lamb of God” being a title for Yeshua. This title is first found in the book of John in John 1:29 where John the Baptist states, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” We also find this title again in John 1:36, “Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!” We read in the book of Revelation that there is a lion-like-lamb who was victorious to be able to open the seals that no one else was able to open. Paul also refers to Yeshua as the Paschal Lamb connecting the death of Yeshua to the setting free of God’s people and connects to the theme found in the Gospel of John. We note from the Torah context, Bereshit / Genesis 22 we read about the binding of Isaac where Abraham’s son asks the question about the animal for the sacrifice and Abraham responds with “God Himself will provide the Lamb for the burnt offering.” These things reveal to us the importance of the Messiah of God and what He has done. 

Isaiah goes on saying the following, ל  וְיַשמַע יוי יָת זִיו קָל מֵימְרֵיה וּתקֹוף דְרָע גְבוּרְתֵיה יְגַלֵי בִתקֹוף רְגַז וְשַלהֹובִי אִישָא דִמשֵיצְיָא פְסִילָן וְזָרָמִית וְאַבנִין דִברַד׃ 30:30 And the Lord shall proclaim the brightness of the voice of His WORD, and He shall reveal the strength of His arm in the fury of His anger, and in flames of fire, destroying the graven images with scattering, and storm, and hailstones. (TgJ) The brightness of the voice of God’s word, this speaks to the creation, to the making of new things. We also note (גַּם אֲנַחְנוּ מְצַיְּינִים) how the The TgJ speaks of the Word of God being a light. This is consistent with the NT text which states the following according to 1 John 5:1-10.

1 John 1:5–10
1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (KJV 5 Καὶ ⸉ἔστιν αὕτη⸊ ἡ ⸀ἀγγελία ἣν ἀκηκόαμεν ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀναγγέλλομεν ὑμῖν,* ὅτι ὁ θεὸς φῶς ἐστιν καὶ σκοτία ⸉1ἐν αὐτῷ οὐκ ἔστιν⸊ οὐδεμία.* 6 ἐὰν εἴπωμεν ὅτι κοινωνίαν ἔχομεν μετʼ* αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐν τῷ σκότει περιπατῶμεν,* ψευδόμεθα καὶ οὐ ποιοῦμεν τὴν ἀλήθειαν·* 7 ἐὰν* ♦⸆ἐν τῷ φωτὶ περιπατῶμεν,* ὡς αὐτός ἐστιν ἐν τῷ φωτί, κοινωνίαν ἔχομεν μετʼ ἀλλήλων,* καὶ τὸ αἷμα ⸂Ἰησοῦ τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ⸃ ⸀καθαρίζει ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ πάσης ἁμαρτίας. 8 ἐὰν εἴπωμεν ὅτι ἁμαρτίαν οὐκ ἔχομεν,* ἑαυτοὺς πλανῶμεν καὶ ἡ ἀλήθεια ⸆ ♦⸉οὐκ ἔστιν ἐν ἡμῖν⸊.* 9 ἐὰν ὁμολογῶμεν τὰς ἁμαρτίας ἡμῶν, πιστός ἐστιν καὶ δίκαιος, ἵνα ἀφῇ ἡμῖν τὰς ἁμαρτίας ⸆ καὶ ⸀καθαρίσῃ ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ πάσης ἀδικίας.* 10 ἐὰν εἴπωμεν ὅτι οὐχ ⸀ἡμαρτήκαμεν, ψεύστην ποιοῦμεν αὐτόν,* καὶ ὁ λόγος αὐτοῦ ⸉οὐκ ἔστιν ἐν ἡμῖν⸊.)

Notice how the light of God, His Word, His Righteousness, brings one to repentance through the revealing of one’s sins. Here John says that there is no darkness in the Lord where darkness is a reference to sin. Sinful men chose to live in darkness to hide their sins. There are those today who are so deceived in their sins that they make public their sins for all to see, taking pride in their sins and expecting everyone else to approve of their sins as well. The Scriptures however tell us to confess our sins and turn from sin otherwise we are marked to be liars. If one chooses to walk in unrepented sins, he will experience what Isaiah says, the strength of God’s arm, and the flames of fire and destruction that comes with serving idols and graven images. 

Isaiah goes on saying the following, לא  אְרֵי מִקָל מֵימְרָא דַיוי מִתְבַר אַתוּרָאָה דִבשֻלטָן מָחֵי׃ 30:31 For through the voice of the WORD of the Lord the Assyrian shall be broken, he that smote by his power. לב  וִיהֵי כָל מִעבַר רַברְבֵיהֹון וְתַקִיפֵיהֹון דִינִיַח יוי פֹורעָנוּת גְבוּרְתֵיה בֵינֵיהֹון בְתוּפִין וּבכִנָרִין יְשַבְחוּן בֵית יִשרָאֵל עַל קְרָבָא תַקִיפָא דְיִתעְבֵיד לְהֹון בְעַמְמַיָא׃ 30:32 And it shall come to pass, that the Lord shall cause to rest the vengeance of His might in every pass of their princes and mighty ones, even amongst them. The house of Israel shall praise with tabrets and harps, because of the mighty war which shall be waged for them against the people. לג  אְרֵי מְסֻדְרָא מִן עָלְמִין לָקֳבֵיל חֹובֵיהֹון גֵיהִנָם אַף הִיא מַלַך עָלְמַיָא אַתקְנַה לְעַמָקָא וּלאַפתָאָה מְדֹורַה אִישָתָא דָלְקָא בַה כִיד בְאָעִין סַגִיאִין מֵימְרָא דַיוי כִנחַל מְגַבַר גָפרִית דָלְקָא בַה׃30:33 For hell is made ready from eternity on account of their sins; yea, the eternal King hath prepared it deep and wide: a fiery pyre as of abundance of fuel burns in it: the WORD of the Lord, like an overwhelming torrent of brimstone, shall kindle it. (TgJ) Something that is interesting here (מַשֶּׁהוּ שֶׁמְּעַנְיֵין כָּאן) in the interpretation on these verses is how Israel’s victory is found in the praises of God in heaven. This suggests that war is wagged in the heavenlies through praise and worship. Rashi interprets it in this way saying the following: 

Rashi on Isaiah 30,32 Part 1
והיה כל מעבר מטה מוסדה. כל מעברות תוקף יסודות אוכלוסיו כל המקומות אשר עברו שם והשחיתום וביום מפלתם יניח ה’ עליהם על שמועת מפלתם והם יהיו בתפים ובכינורות, וכה פתרון המקרא בסירוס והיה בתפים ובכינורות כל מעבר מטה מוסדה אשר יניחם ה’ עליו ובמלחמות תנופת שוא מעלה ומוריד נלחם בם הקב”ה, ומדרש אגדה תנופת קציר העומר עמדה לישראל באותה מלחמה כי ליל ששה עשר בניסן היה:
 And it shall be, every place where the established staff shall pass All the crossings of the strength of the foundations of his armies; all the places they passed and destroyed, and on the day of their downfall the Lord shall grant peace upon them through the news of their downfall, and they shall be joyful with drums and harps. And this is the interpretation of the verse in inverted order: And it shall be with drums and harps, every passing of the established staff upon which the Lord shall grant peace, and with wars of vain waving, lifting and lowering, did the Holy One, blessed be He, fight against them. And, according to Midrash Aggadah, the waving of the harvest of the Omer stood up for Israel in that war, for it was the night of the sixteenth of Nissan.

Here Rashi points out that the strength of an army is the Lord God in heaven. The commentary on the worship, the waving, lifting, lowering, and the harvest Omer, these things speak of the faithful, of doing and bringing these things to the Lord based upon what is written in His Word. We note in Isaiah 30:32 we see the word גֵיהִנָם (gehenna / hell). There is a lot that is said in the rabbinic literature concerning hell. Again, this is an important point to make concerning an anti-missionary tactic which claims that there is no concept of hell in Judaism, therefore the NT concept of hell is in error (לא נכון). I have run into this type of tactic many times in the past, and it is quite easy to point out various references from the rabbinic literature, the Talmud, the Midrash, and the commentaries. Let us look at a few of these references in relation to what Isaiah is saying here.

Talmud Bavli Eruvin 19a:19
וְהָאִיכָּא ״תׇּפְתֶּה״, דִּכְתִיב: ״כִּי עָרוּךְ מֵאֶתְמוּל תׇּפְתֶּה״, הָהוּא שֶׁכׇּל הַמִּתְפַּתֶּה בְּיִצְרוֹ יִפּוֹל שָׁם. The Gemara asks: Isn’t there also the name Tofte, as it is written: “For its hearth [tofte] is ordained of old” (Isaiah 30:33). The Gemara answers: That name too is a description, meaning that anyone who allows himself to be seduced [mitpateh] by his evil inclination will fall there.

Talmud Bavli Menachot 100a:2
ושמא תאמר למלך לא הוכנה תלמוד לאמר (ישעיהו ל, לג) גם היא למלך הוכן ושמא תאמר אין בה עצים תלמוד לאמר (ישעיהו ל, לג) מדורתה אש ועצים הרבה ושמא תאמר זה הוא שכרה תלמוד לומר (איוב לו, טז) ונחת שולחנך מלא דשן: And lest you say that Gehenna is prepared only for ordinary people, but it is not prepared for important individuals such as a king, the verse states: “It has been prepared even for the king.” And lest you say there is no wood in Gehenna, the verse states: “Its pile is fire and much wood.” And lest you say that this, i.e., escaping Gehenna, is the only reward for Torah study, the verse states: “And that which is set on your table is full of fatness” (Job 36:16). This indicates that one who obeys God and turns from the paths of death to the paths of life is not only saved from Gehenna, he also attains tranquility and prosperity.

The rabbis of the Talmud make a connection between Tofte and Gehenna. These rabbis also speak of there being something within each of us that desires to draw us away to sinful activities. When one gives into the Yetzer Hara (evil inclination) he falls into Tofte, into the furnace that is kindled by the Word of the Lord (Isaiah 30:32 TgJ). The Tamud goes on saying that Gehenna was prepared not just for ordinary people, but also for kings and royalty. This suggests that every man, woman, and child is accountable before God, and there are no exceptions. The rabbis draw in this idea of Torah study and reward in heaven, and/or getting out of Gehenna / Hell. The whole idea here is of studying God’s word and applying it to our lives. This is absolutely necessary (הֶכְרֵחִי) as the people of God and the reason is for remembering and being conscious or aware of our relationship with God and His Word. This is why the rabbis in the Talmud write that “the one who obeys God and turns from the paths of death to the paths of life is not only saved from Hell but also receives peace (שלום) and prosperity from God.” Akedat Yitzchak writes saying the following:

Akeidat Yitzchak 101:1 Part 3
The Talmud Nedarim 39, reports that seven things were created prior to the universe itself. They are: Torah, Teshuvah, the gan Eden, Gehinnom, G-d’s throne, the holy Temple and the name of the Messiah. Scriptural proof is provided. Concerning the Torah it is written “The Lord made me at the beginning of His ways.” (Proverbs 8,22) Concerning Teshuvah, it is written “before mountains were born and the earth suffered birth pangs, You turn man to contrition and say “return, ye children of man!” (Psalms 90,3) Of the garden of Eden (Genesis 2,8) it is said: “and the Lord planted a garden in Eden heretofore.” Concerning Gehinnom it is written (Isaiah 30,33) “For Tophet in the valley of Hinnom has been prepared of old. He made it very deep; the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the Lord kindles it like a stream of brimstone.” Of the throne of G-d it is said: (Psalms 93,2) “Your throne is firmly established from time immemorial.” Of the holy Temple it is written in Jeremiah 17,22: “on high from the beginning, the place of Your sanctuary.” Of the name of the Messiah it states (Psalms 72,17) “His name continues since prior to the sun.”

Here Akeidat Yitzchak describes (מְתָאֵר) the seven things that God created prior to the universe itself (Torah, Teshuvah, the gan Eden, Gehinnom, G-d’s throne, the holy Temple and the name of the Messiah) Notice how this list of things and places cause each of these things to be intimately connected with one another. We read this list and it is obvious why the NT describes these things in relation to one another, and this is because it is an old tradition based upon the Scriptures on the origin of these things preceding the creation. This means that each of these things were so important for our understanding of the character of God, of who He is, being completely holy and righteous. We also note that His holiness and righteousness necessitate these things! The Mishneh Torah is a code of Rabbinic Jewish religious law (halakha) authored by Maimonides (Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon/Rambam) and the section on Repentance 8,5 writes that the greatest travesty is the soul that is cut off because of His sin. This is so true and is the reason God sent Yeshua to show us the way to live and laid down his life for ours for the forgiveness of sins! Ein Yaakov goes on to describe Hell (Gehenna) saying the following:

Ein Yaakov (Glick Edition), Eiruvin 2:4
R. Joshua b. Levi said: “Gehenna has seven names; Grave, Place of Destruction, Dungeon, Horrible Pit, Miry Clay, Shadow of Death, and Subterranean Land. Grave, as it is written (Jonah 2, 3.) Out of the depth of the grave have I cried. Place of Destruction, as it is written (Ps. 88, 12.) Shall thy kindness be related in the grave, and thy righteousness in the place of destruction? Dungeon, as it is written (Ib. 16, 10.) For Thou wilt not abandon my soul to the grave; Thou wilt not suffer thy pious to see dungeon. And Horrible Pit, and Miry Clay, as it is written (Ib. 40, 3.) And he brought me up out of the horrible pit, and of the miry clay. Shadow of Death, as it is written (Ib. 107, 10.) Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death; and it is known by tradition under the name of Subterranean Land.'” Is there no other name [for Gehenna]? Behold, there is also Gei Hinom? This means only a valley which is as deep as Gehenna and to which people go to practice lewdness. There still remains the name, Topheth, as it is written (Is. 30, 33.) For already of old is Topheth made ready. This means that whoever is persuaded by his evil impulse, will fall in there. Concerning the locality of Paradise. Resh Lakish said: ‘If it is in Palestine, its gate must be in the city of Beth Shean, [since it yields the best fruits]; If Paradise is situated in Araby then its gate is in the city of Beth Gerem [the most productive spot]. And if it is between the rivers it must be in Damaskanun.” In Babylon, Abaye would praise the fruit growing on the other side of the Euphrates and Rabba would praise the fruit of the City of Harphania.

Ein Yaakov describes Hell saying, “Gehenna has seven names; Grave, Place of Destruction, Dungeon, Horrible Pit, Miry Clay, Shadow of Death, and Subterranean Land.” It is interesting how the commentary draws in Jonah 2:3 in regard to Jonah speaking of the pit, the grave was the place that He found himself in the belly of this great fish. This suggests that Jonah may have died when he was in the belly of the fish. This also offers a great interpretation on when the fish spit Jonah back onto the shore on dry land, that God had resurrected him. We are not told this in the narrative, but it is an interesting parallel to what Yeshua said in the NT text concerning the sign of Jonah and the Messiah being in the grave for three days and then being raised to life. (Luke 11:29-32) When we study Rashi, he agrees with these commentaries on Isaiah 30:33 and the creation of hell, when one is enticed and gives into sin one falls into it, how the place was prepared for kings and all people and is described by a heated fire burning those who fall in, and it is set on fire by the breath of God. (Rashi on Isaiah 30,33 Parts 1-6) The point is what the psalmist writes “For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; Neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption” (Tehillim / Psalms 16:10) the Lord God will not send one that belongs to Him to Hell (Gehenna) but He will rescue such a person. The concept of the seven things made before the creation, include the Messiah, and this connects us to the significance of faith in God’s Holy One, in His Messiah! It is absolutely necessary (הֶכְרֵחִי) that we believe in the one whom God had sent to save us from ourselves and deliver us from our sins!