John Calvin Commentary Isaiah 42:24

"Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not Jehovah? he against whom we have sinned, and in whose ways they would not walk, neither were they obedient unto his law." — Isaiah 42:24 (ASV)

Who gave Jacob for a prey? These are the matters about which Isaiah complains that the Jews did not take note. They thought either that the sufferings they endured happened by chance, or that they lacked the same strength to resist as their fathers had, and that this was why they were conquered by their enemies. In short, with their minds fully occupied by external causes, they failed to observe the threats so frequently proclaimed by the prophets, nor did they pay attention to the judgments of God. Therefore, the Prophet drags them before the heavenly throne by declaring that God is the author of these judgments.

Has not Jehovah? They could not believe that the calamities they suffered proceeded from God as the just punishment of their sins. We know that there is nothing people can now be persuaded to believe with more difficulty. Everyone acknowledges that God is the author of all things; but if you ask whether or not all adverse events are God’s chastisements, they will be ashamed to confess it. For people are distracted by a variety of thoughts and, being prejudiced by their ideas about fortune, turn their minds and hearts to this or that cause rather than to God.

Because we have sinned against Him. Isaiah next points out the cause of such grievous destruction: the sins of the people, which the Lord justly punished. In the same way, Moses had also shown:

“How would a thousand flee from the face of one? Does not the Lord pursue you, and shut you up in the hands of the enemy?” (Deuteronomy 32:30)

We wonder every day at many things that happen contrary to our expectation, and yet we do not acknowledge that the cause lies with ourselves. It is therefore necessary that we be hard-pressed and constrained by force to confess our fault, and consequently, this doctrine must be frequently stated and repeated.

So that people may not accuse God of cruelty, the Prophet adds that He acts for a just cause. For God does not rush forward to inflict punishment if He is not constrained by necessity, and He takes no pleasure in our afflictions. Therefore, we must observe two separate things here:

1. No evil happens to us except from the Lord, so we must not think that anything happens either by chance or by any external cause.
2. We suffer no evil whatever except for a just cause, because we have sinned against God.

In vain, therefore, do people accuse God of cruelty, for we ought to acknowledge His righteous judgments in the chastisements He deservedly inflicts.

And they would not walk in His ways. Here the Prophet aggravates the guilt of the Jews. He changes the person because he formerly included himself with others—as a member of that body—and confessed his guilt.

This was not because he resembled the majority of the people or approved of their crimes. Rather, it was because amidst such a great mass of vices, he could not be entirely free from being somewhat infected by the contagion, like other parts of the body.

Because he was so different from the majority of the people, he changes the person and adds, “They would not;” by which he declares that such deep-rooted obstinacy is offensive to him, so that he cannot in any way conceal it or express approval of it. For the subject at hand is not ordinary vices, but contempt and rejection of God, manifested by fiercely and haughtily shaking off His yoke.

This is why Isaiah excludes himself from their number.

If these things justly befell the Jews, let us understand that the same punishment hangs over us and the whole world if we do not take warning and repent. We see how kindly the Lord invites us to Himself, in how many ways He expresses His goodwill toward us, how graciously He testifies that He will be reconciled, though He has been offended. Having now been so often and so kindly invited by God, and having experienced His mercy, if we refuse to listen to Him, we will undoubtedly feel that the ruin they experienced belongs equally to all rebels.