Internal exodus

Yahweh speaks to Isaiah “with a strong hand,” and the force of the instruction is to refuse to walk in the way of the people.

“Strong hand” is an exodus image, the strong hand by which Yahweh yanked Israel from Egypt. Now, His words to Isaiah are the strong hand yanking him from the way of the people to follow the way of Yahweh. Not surprisingly, Isaiah has recourse to another exodus image in verse 18: Those who have been spoken to by Yahweh’s strong hand become “signs and wonders,” like the signs and wonders performed against Pharaoh in Egypt.

Clearly, Judah has become an Egypt (by allying with Egypt, eventually), and Yahweh can bring an Israel out of Israel only by exreme measures.

More generally, the word of Yahweh makes an exodus wherever it is proclaimed. The Word is the strong hand of the Spirit that tears people away from customary folly to follow the way of Christ.