The prophet Isaiah in chapter 28:1-22 gives a blunt warning to Israel and the leaders in Jerusalem about entering into agreements for peace and security with foreign entities rather than simple reliance on their God.
“Hear the word of the Lord you scornful men who rule this people who are in Jerusalem, because you have said, ‘we have made a covenant with death‘, and with sheol we are in agreement. When the overflowing scourge passes through, it will not come to us, for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood we have hidden ourselves.” (Isaiah 28: 14-15).
Consider Israel’s current situation. They have recently concluded or are in the process of concluding several wars with an Islamic “ring of fire” including Iran, Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, and other entities in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. Their victories can easily fill them with a pride of military power that Isaiah describes as “drunkenness” through which they err. (verses 7&8). (In reality, their results are not from their own perceived power, but power given by God). They are now signatories of a 20- point peace plan concerning Gaza that was unanimously approved by the UN security council. Several more Islamic neighbors are leaning toward shortly signing peace agreements with Israel, joining the so-called Abraham Accords. Their victories and peace accords are potentially leading to a false sense of security.
Even though they have God’s word concerning these types of covenants, Isaiah says they are like children in learning, not yet mature in knowledge “that they might fall backward and be broken and snared and caught.” (verse 13).
If they continue down this road, Isaiah says they will have “hidden themselves under falsehood” (verse 15). “Your covenant with death will be annulled, and your agreement with sheol will not stand; when the overflowing scourge passes through, you will be trampled down by it.” (verse 18). Several other places in the scriptures warn Israel about making covenants with other nations such as: “You shall make no covenant with them….” (Exodus 23:32), “You shall conquer them and utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them.” (Deuteronomy 7:2), “And you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land.” (Judges 2:2).
Although most bible commentators point to a fulfillment of these Isaiah prophecies in his day involving Assyria, Egypt, and Babylon, a modern-day fulfillment is more likely. This is due to the Messianic verses 16 & 21. The “scourge that passes through” will likely be the antichrist and his allies and any covenants Israel may have with their neighbors will be empty and void. Their “covenant with death” will be truly annulled. Their eventual deliverance will be from the hand of God-see Micah 5:5-6.
Israel is approaching a time in their modern history when peace and safety will be oft-spoken bywords. (See my post: “When They Say,’Peace and Safety!’Then Suddenly…” – Jim’s Eschatological Info“) However, Israeli leaders need to cease reliance on peace treaties or alliances with other countries to provide for their security and continued existence. Instead, they need to rely soley on the God of their patriarchs. Any covenants with their Islamic neighbors, because of Islamic law and doctrine, can only result in eventual hostility to their very existence and abject failure. In making these covenants they are, perhaps unknowingly, as Isaiah prophesied, making covenants with death.
Maranatha, Jim