Matthew Henry Commentary Isaiah 30:1-7

"Woe to the rebellious children, saith Jehovah, that take counsel, but not of me; and that make a league, but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin, that set out to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to take refuge in the shadow of Egypt! Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the refuge in the shadow of Egypt your confusion. For their princes are at Zoan, and their ambassadors are come to Hanes. They shall all be ashamed because of a people that cannot profit them, that are not a help nor profit, but a shame, and also a reproach. The burden of the beasts of the South. Through the land of trouble and anguish, from whence come the lioness and the lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the humps of camels, to a people that shall not profit [them]. For Egypt helpeth in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I called her Rahab that sitteth still." — Isaiah 30:1-7 (ASV)

It was often the fault and folly of the Jews, that when troubled by their neighbors on one side, they sought help from others instead of looking up to God. They would not trust in God. They took great pains to win over the Egyptians. The riches so spent turned out badly.

Nor can we avoid the dreadful consequences of adding sin to sin except by making the righteousness of Christ our refuge and seeking the sanctification of the Holy Spirit. Men have always been prone to lean on their own understandings, but this will end in their shame and misery.

See what dangers men run into who forsake God to follow their carnal securities. The Creator is the Rock of ages, the creature a broken reed; we cannot expect too little from man, or too much from God. Our strength is to sit still, in humble dependence upon God and his goodness, and quiet submission to his will.