A prophecy concerning the animals of the Negev: Through a land of hardship and distress, of lions and lionesses, of adders and darting snakes, the envoys carry their riches on donkeys' backs, their treasures on the humps of camels, to that unprofitable nation, to Egypt, whose help is utterly useless. Therefore I call her Rahab the Do-Nothing. – Isaiah 30:6-7

Today's Scripture Reading (May 24, 2026): Isaiah 30

It is a story I have heard in several different versions over the years. The story tells of a businessman who is told he will die that very night. In response to this news, the man decides to leave his home in Philadelphia and travel to Toronto, Canada. While on his way to the airport, he runs straight into the arms of Death himself. Death seems surprised to run into the man, so the man decides to continue his plan to run and go to a place where Death won't find him. He makes it to the airport and onto the plane. The man relaxes a little as the plane taxis toward the runway, believing that his plan has worked because Death is nowhere to be seen. The man arrives in Toronto, checks into his hotel, and then decides to enjoy the beautiful Canadian summer evening by walking to dinner. On his way to dinner, he runs straight into the waiting arms of Death.

The man concedes that Death has beaten him, but he has a question that needs an answer. "When I saw you this morning in Philadelphia, you seemed surprised," the man commented.

Death smiled and replied. "I was. I knew I had an appointment with you tonight in Toronto, so I wasn't expecting to see you in Philadelphia."

I am not sure what the moral of the story is supposed to be. Maybe it is as simple as you can't outrun Death. However, it also seems like a common thriller plot. The protagonists are warned about the killer among them. And so, they decide to run someplace else, only to run into the killer or maybe someone else who is just as dangerous.

Isaiah is speaking about the animals of the Negev. Today, the Negev consists of the Southernmost portion of Israel. It is a dry place where not much lives, but, more importantly, it is an area that must be crossed to reach Egypt. So, Isaiah mourns the pack animals of Judah. They will be forced to carry the riches of the people from Judah, across the dangerous Negev, in an attempt to get close to the safety of Egypt, but it will all be in vain. Isaiah calls Egypt "Rahab the Do-Nothing." Rahab is a name, but it is also the Hebrew word for "Pride." Isaiah's point is that Egypt is filled with pride over its position in the world, but running to them isn't going to help because they won't lift a finger to defend Israel in a conflict with Assyria.

But maybe more importantly, the rich of Judah are running from a nation that they fear is a danger to them, and right into the arms of someone who has shown that they are a danger to the nations in the area. Assyria is a danger, but so is Egypt, and only God has the answer to the dilemma that Judah faces.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Isaiah 31