Single lesson
Isaiah 31: Woe to Those Who Rely on Egypt
Isaiah 31:1–9
Isaiah 31 warns against looking to Egypt for military help instead of looking to the Lord. The passage contrasts human strength with God’s power, then calls Israel to return and throw away idols.
Before you teach
This passage is a prophetic warning and promise. Isaiah speaks about people going to Egypt for help, trusting horses and chariots, while not seeking the Holy One of Israel. The passage then describes the Lord fighting for Mount Zion, protecting Jerusalem, and calling Israel to return to him.
Explain the central teaching of Isaiah 31: Woe to Those Who Rely on Egypt, using two details from the reading. Isaiah 31 teaches that God’s people must turn from trusting human power and idols, and return to the Lord who alone can truly protect and judge.
Welcome: Isaiah 31: Woe to Those Who Rely on Egypt
5 minIntroduce “Woe to Those Who Rely on Egypt” and locate Isaiah 31:1–9. Isaiah 31 teaches that God’s people must turn from trusting human power and idols, and return to the Lord who alone can truly protect and judge. Invite each learner to name a detail or question they will listen for.
Isaiah 31:1, Isaiah 31:5, Isaiah 31:9
Read and explain the passage
12 minThe passage begins with "Woe" against those who go to Egypt for help. Their problem is not only asking for help, but relying on horses, chariots, and strong horsemen while failing to look to the Holy One of Israel or seek the Lord. The issue is where their trust rests.
Two pictures explain God’s action. First, he is like a lion that is not frightened away by a crowd of shepherds. Then he is like birds hovering as he protects Jerusalem. The passage says he will protect, deliver, pass over, and preserve.
The passage ends with a promise about Assyria’s downfall. The Assyrian will fall by a sword "not of man" and "not of mankind", stressing that this defeat comes from beyond ordinary human strength. Yahweh speaks as the one whose fire is in Zion and furnace in Jerusalem.
Read the selected verses together, pausing at “Woe to Those Who Rely on Egypt”. Use the source reading below and check the explanation against the words of the passage.
Isaiah 31:1, Isaiah 31:4, Isaiah 31:5, Isaiah 31:8, Isaiah 31:9
Discuss the details and their meaning
8 minUse the three questions below. Begin with “What exactly were the people trusting instead of seeking the Lord?” and allow time to find the supporting verses. Isaiah 31 teaches that God’s people must turn from trusting human power and idols, and return to the Lord who alone can truly protect and judge. Ask learners to explain which details support their answer and to identify a question they would like to explore further.
Isaiah 31:1, Isaiah 31:3, Isaiah 31:6, Isaiah 31:7
Make and respond: Vision and message evidence map
12 minWork on “Isaiah 31: Woe to Those Who Rely on Egypt: Vision and message evidence map”. Follow the materials and steps below, using “Woe to Those Who Rely on Egypt” as reading headings. Each learner should include at least two accurate details and their verse references. Share one observation from the finished sheet and explain how it connects with the central teaching.
Isaiah 31:1, Isaiah 31:5, Isaiah 31:9
Closing: return to Woe to Those Who Rely on Egypt
3 minRevisit Isaiah 31:1–9. Invite a learner to summarise what the group has learned about Woe to Those Who Rely on Egypt and another to support the summary with a verse. Give learners a moment to complete their response sheet. They can share a question or, if appropriate for the group, join the optional prayer.
Isaiah 31:1, Isaiah 31:5, Isaiah 31:9
Questions to explore
What exactly were the people trusting instead of seeking the Lord?
Look for the repeated words about relying and trusting, and notice the contrast with looking to the Holy One of Israel.
Isaiah 31:1
How does Isaiah show the difference between Egypt’s strength and God’s power?
Notice the contrast between "men, and not God" and "flesh, and not spirit", then read what happens when the Lord stretches out his hand.
Isaiah 31:3
What actions show real return to the Lord in this passage?
The text links returning to God with casting away idols made by human hands.
Isaiah 31:6, Isaiah 31:7
Make, think or respond
Isaiah 31: Woe to Those Who Rely on Egypt: Vision and message evidence map
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or pens
- a Bible or the source reading on this page
Try it together
- Fold a sheet into three panels or draw three columns. Label them “What the passage describes”, “What is explained in the text”, “What question remains”.
- Read Isaiah 31:1–9. Use “Woe to Those Who Rely on Egypt” as your reading headings and add a short quotation or detail with its verse reference to each panel.
- Compare your notes with a partner. Check that every quotation is accurate and every conclusion has support in the passage.
- Circle an explanation the passage itself provides. Leave unexplained details as questions for further reading.
The finished sheet keeps the details of Isaiah 31: Woe to Those Who Rely on Egypt connected to their Bible references and gives the group a way to explain what they noticed.
Adapt for your group
- For learners who need more support, prepare the reading headings “Woe to Those Who Rely on Egypt” and let them match short quotations to the correct heading.
- For confident readers, compare two sections of Isaiah 31:1–9. Ask for a written explanation with two supporting references and one question that the text leaves open.
An optional closing prayer
“God, help us listen carefully as we read Isaiah 31:1–9. Help us understand what we have read, ask thoughtful questions and respond with care for others. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Isaiah 31
1 Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, and rely on horses, and trust in chariots because they are many, and in horsemen because they are very strong, but they don’t look to the Holy One of Israel, and they don’t seek Yahweh!
2 Yet he also is wise, and will bring disaster, and will not call back his words, but will arise against the house of the evildoers, and against the help of those who work iniquity.
3 Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When Yahweh stretches out his hand, both he who helps shall stumble, and he who is helped shall fall, and they all shall be consumed together.
4 For Yahweh says to me, “As the lion and the young lion growling over his prey, if a multitude of shepherds is called together against him, will not be dismayed at their voice, nor abase himself for their noise, so Yahweh of Armies will come down to fight on Mount Zion and on its heights.
5 As birds hovering, so Yahweh of Armies will protect Jerusalem. He will protect and deliver it. He will pass over and preserve it.”
6 Return to him from whom you have deeply revolted, children of Israel.
7 For in that day everyone shall cast away his idols of silver and his idols of gold—sin which your own hands have made for you.
8 “The Assyrian will fall by the sword, not of man; and the sword, not of mankind, shall devour him. He will flee from the sword, and his young men will become subject to forced labor.
9 His rock will pass away by reason of terror, and his princes will be afraid of the banner,” says Yahweh, whose fire is in Zion, and his furnace in Jerusalem.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.