Regret usually comes when everything has passed. Thousands of words "if only" or "if only" are uttered consciously or unconsciously. Returning to the original condition is not possible, the only thing we can do is to improve what has happened by moving on and reflecting on everything that has happened. This is what the kingdom of Judah is facing according to Isaiah chapter 20.

Judah was under geopolitical pressure that was not favourable to her. Assyria was becoming a powerful force. Other countries were busy building coalitions to defeat Assyria. One that is also mentioned in our passage is the rebellion of Ashdod, a region in Philistia, against Assyria with the help of Egypt. King Hezekiah himself was also tempted to ally with Egypt and was tempted to fight Assyria. Interestingly, in the midst of these political strategies, God appeared and reminded Judah not to rely on any country and ally with it.

Then God commanded Isaiah to perform a symbolic act as a message to the people by taking off everything attached to his body and walking bare-chested and barefoot. The mourning cloth was wrapped around his waist. For three years Isaiah did this and became a spectacle, what did it mean? God wanted to show that like Isaiah's nakedness, so was the fragility of the nations that Judah thought were strong. They would crumble and fall. When that happened it was too late for Judah. If only they had continued to trust in God alone.

Our helplessness and ignorance as humans is often frightening. Yet it is precisely then that we are invited to surrender and depend on the infinite One. Isn't that what is happening right now? The news often shows how bad the world is. Crisis after crisis pops up and becomes part of our lives. It is at this time that God invites us to rely on Him always. He is our only source of strength.