Day 205 (Isaiah 35-36) - Year 7

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Bible Recap — Day 205 (Isaiah 35-36) - Year 7

Release Date: July 24, 2025
Host: Tara-Leigh Cobble

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Introduction

In Day 205 of The Bible Recap, host Tara-Leigh Cobble delves into Isaiah chapters 35 and 36, exploring the profound themes of hope, restoration, and divine intervention. This episode bridges historical context with prophetic insights, offering listeners a comprehensive understanding of these pivotal scriptures.

Zooming Out: Understanding the Context

Tara begins by recapping the previous day's discussion on Edom's transformation into a desolate wasteland, symbolizing the undoing of creation akin to the Flood narrative in Genesis. She highlights the intentional repetition of the Hebrew terms tohu (formless) and bohu (void), emphasizing their significance:

Unknown Co-host [00:25]: "Genesis 1 is the only other place where that combo exists in scripture. And in fact, the only other time the word bohu void is used in all of scripture is in Jeremiah 4:23 where he's describing this same situation."

This linguistic parallel underscores the gravity of God's judgment and the subsequent promise of restoration.

Chapter 35: A Dual Fulfillment of Prophecy

The discussion transitions to Isaiah 35, where Tara and her co-host explore the dual fulfillment of these prophecies—both historical and eschatological.

• Historical Fulfillment: Tara points out the partial fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecies with the return of the Israelites from Babylonian exile, approximately 70 years after their captivity. She underscores God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises to His people.

  Unknown Co-host [02:15]: "He made a specific promise to a specific people, and he fulfilled that promise. God can be trusted to keep his word."

• Future Fulfillment: The conversation shifts to the eschatological aspect, where the desert blooming symbolizes the future restoration of creation, often referred to as Earth 3.0. Tara expresses awe at the transformation and the assurance of God's ultimate plan.

  Unknown Co-host [03:10]: "If God has brought about such great beauty in just this partial fulfillment, how much more beautiful will it be when he brings about the complete fulfillment of this prophecy in the future?"

Encouragement and Divine Assurance

A highlight of Isaiah 35 is verse 4, which offers profound encouragement to those with anxious hearts:

Unknown Co-host [04:00]: "Say to those who have an anxious heart, be strong, fear not. Why? Why shouldn't they fear? How can they be strong?"

The co-host elaborates that while exile may afflict the people, it is not the end of their story. God's promise of vengeance and salvation assures them of eventual restoration.

Unknown Co-host [04:30]: "When my heart feels anxious, when I'm maybe headed for exile, I try to preach to it. Behold your God. Behold your God. Behold your God."

Chapter 36: Confrontation with the Assyrians

Moving to Isaiah 36, the episode revisits the confrontation between the Assyrian army and the leaders of Judah under King Hezekiah.

• Assyrian Tactics: The Assyrians employ intimidation, offering false assurances of protection and mocking Judah's reliance on God. They taunt the people by challenging their military capabilities:

  Unknown Co-host [05:10]: "They basically say, look, we'll even give you 2,000 horses, provided you can even find that many warriors to ride on them."

• Profound Metaphor: Amidst their bluster, the Assyrians present a striking metaphor that resonates beyond the immediate context:

  Unknown Co-host [05:40]: "Behold, you are trusting in Egypt, that broken reed of a staff which will pierce the hand of any man who leans on it."

This metaphor serves as a caution against placing trust in fleeting alliances or idols, reinforcing the biblical warning against reliance on anything but God.

• King Hezekiah's Wisdom: In response, King Hezekiah wisely advises the people not to engage with the Assyrians' provocations, demonstrating faith and calm amidst threats.

Personal Reflections: Finding Hope in Prophecy

The episode concludes with personal reflections, where a listener shares their inspiration from Isaiah 35:

Listener [06:00]: "I just kept reading it over and over again, picturing that desert, those streams, those flowers, and I was in awe at our promise making, promise keeping God."

This testimony encapsulates the overarching theme of the episode—trusting in God's faithful promises and anticipating the fulfillment of His divine plan.

Conclusion

Day 205 of The Bible Recap offers a rich exploration of Isaiah 35-36, blending historical context with future hope. Tara-Leigh Cobble and her co-host provide insightful interpretations, encouraging listeners to trust in God's unwavering promises amidst trials and uncertainties. Through engaging discussion and heartfelt reflections, this episode deepens the understanding of divine restoration and the enduring faithfulness of God.

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Notable Quotes:

• Unknown Co-host [00:25]: "Genesis 1 is the only other place where that combo exists in scripture. And in fact, the only other time the word bohu void is used in all of scripture is in Jeremiah 4:23 where he's describing this same situation."

• Unknown Co-host [02:15]: "He made a specific promise to a specific people, and he fulfilled that promise. God can be trusted to keep his word."

• Unknown Co-host [04:00]: "Say to those who have an anxious heart, be strong, fear not. Why? Why shouldn't they fear? How can they be strong?"

• Unknown Co-host [05:40]: "Behold, you are trusting in Egypt, that broken reed of a staff which will pierce the hand of any man who leans on it."

• Listener [06:00]: "I just kept reading it over and over again, picturing that desert, those streams, those flowers, and I was in awe at our promise making, promise keeping God."

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This comprehensive summary captures the essence of the Bible Recap episode, highlighting the key discussions, insights, and inspirational moments that bring Isaiah 35-36 to life for listeners.

Transcript

[Tara Leigh Cobble]

Hey, Bible readers, I'm Tara Leigh Cobble and I'm your host for the Bible Recap.

[Unknown Co-host]

Before we dig into our chapters today, let's zoom out a little on this situation to make sure we're addressing some of the possible nuances of these prophecies. Yesterday we left off with Edom being turned into a sticky, smelly wasteland covered in weeds and birds. It represented a kind of undoing of creation, much like the Flood when God destroyed Earth 1.0 and then opened Earth 2.0 for business. When God first made Earth 1.0, the words he used to describe it in Genesis 1:2 were without form and void, shapeless and empty. Basically, the Hebrew words used here are tohu and bohu. And in yesterday's description of that wasteland in 3411, both of those words are used again. This seems to be a very intentional move. Genesis 1 is the only other place where that combo exists in scripture. And in fact, the only other time the word bohu void is used in all of scripture is in Jeremiah 4. 23 where he's describing this same situation. So yesterday we read about the formless void Earth 2.0 after God's wrath was poured out over all the nations. And today we read about how the ransom captives are brought back to the land. So to understand this section well, we have to ask, does this refer to the time around 700 BC when this was written, or is this a future prophecy of the final days? And if you had a chance to watch the short video we linked to about the Day of the Lord, you may be wondering, is this a day of the Lord, or is this the day of the Lord? If you missed that video, we'll link to it again in today's show. Notes A popular opinion among scholars is that it's both judgment on the earth then, and judgment on the earth in the a day of the Lord and the Day of the Lord. We've talked about how prophecies can often speak to multiple things in a layered sort of way, and it's possible that's what's happening. A low level reference to the immediate scenario in the seventh century B.C. and a high level reference to the future scenario still yet to come. So when we read today about the ransom captives returning to the land, what about that? What does that point to again? Possibly both the already fulfilled return of the Israelites to the Promised Land and the not yet fulfilled return of all God's adopted children to the newly restored Earth 3.0. It bears repeating that I hold all as yet unfulfilled prophecies with an open hand. And if you happen to disagree with any of my interpretations of End Times prophecy, that's okay, as long as you do it biblically, of course, and we're still friends. So, with that in mind, let's take a look at what happens in chapter 35 today. Much of the partial fulfillment of these prophecies has already happened. When it speaks of the desert blooming, it is. I've been to that desert, and it's a wealth of agriculture. For instance, today Israel exports tulips to Holland, and there are streams in the desert. And God brought back the ransom captives among Judah. That happened about 70 years after they were exiled to Babylon. He made a specific promise to a specific people, and he fulfilled that promise. God can be trusted to keep his word. You guys, my favorite part of this chapter is in verse four, it says, say to those who have an anxious heart, be strong, fear not. Why? Why shouldn't they fear? How can they be strong? He continues by saying, behold, your God will come with vengeance. With the recompense of God, he will come and save you. Does this mean they won't go into exile? No, they do. It just means exile is not the end of the story. He's coming to get them. When my heart feels anxious, when I'm maybe headed for exile, I try to preach to it. Behold your God. Behold your God. Behold your God. This chapter ends with a promise we've seen before. No more tears, no more wickedness, no more threats to our peace, just everlasting joy. Then, in chapter 36, we revisit a story we first encountered on day 200, where the Assyrians come to confront the leaders who work for King Hezekiah. And they do it in front of the people of Judah. They try to use their best intimidation tactics to get the people to doubt God and follow them. Instead, they promise the people protection and provision, mocking God's ability to take care of his people. They also mock the people of Judah directly. They basically say, look, we'll even give you 2,000 horses, provided you can even find that many warriors to ride on them. That's like saying, oh, you want to fight us? We'll give you the guns ourselves. But you probably wouldn't know how to use them. The Assyrians make a lot of false statements, but I'll give them credit for one thing, though. They do come up with a profound metaphor that rings true in general. In verse six, they say, behold, you are trusting in Egypt that broken reed of a staff which will pierce the hand of any man who leans on it. In other words, if they try to go to Egypt for help, it'll backfire. And that's true. The Assyrians are right here in this one tiny sentence. Even God Himself warned Judah against trusting Egypt. Idols may prop you up temporarily, but they'll wound you eventually. The rest of a serious speech is just a bunch of trash talk, intimidation tactics, and false promises. Fortunately, King Hezekiah was wise enough to tell his people not to respond. What was your God shot today? Mine was in chapter 35. I just kept reading it over and over again, picturing that desert, those streams, those flowers, and I was in awe at our promise making, promise keeping God. If God has brought about such great beauty in just this partial fulfillment, how much more beautiful will it be when he brings about the complete fulfillment of this prophecy in the future? I'm so glad I'll get to see it with my own eyes. I've always wanted to live in Israel and He says it's going to happen. What an abundantly generous God. He's where the joy is.

[Tara Leigh Cobble]

If you're a list checker or a box maker or a type A organized planner like me, you're going to love having our printable reading plan. It's on our website and you can download it for free and check off.

[Unknown Co-host]

All the boxes to see your progress as you move through.

[Tara Leigh Cobble]

And if you download it at this point in the year, you're going to feel so accomplished because you can check.

[Unknown Co-host]

Off more than half of the plan.

[Tara Leigh Cobble]

I love seeing so many of you post on social media all the different ways you mark off the days. I've seen different colored highlighting, blacked out squares, diagonal lines and star stickers. Even if you do the plan on the Bible app, this is a great tangible reminder that you can keep out in a visible space to help prompt you each day. You can find it on our website at thebiblerecap. Com Start or click the link in the show notes.