“But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.”
My Notes
What Does Isaiah 63:10 Mean?
Isaiah recounts Israel's history of rebellion: but they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.
But they rebelled — the rebellion (marah — to be contentious, to resist, to defy) follows the recounting of God's goodness in v.7-9. God was gracious. They rebelled. The contrast is the point: the rebellion is not against a harsh master. It is against a loving one.
And vexed his holy Spirit — vexed (atsab) means to grieve, to cause pain, to hurt. The Holy Spirit — God's personal, intimate presence among his people — is grieved by their rebellion. The Spirit is not impersonal force. The Spirit can be vexed — hurt, grieved, wounded by the behavior of the people he dwells among.
Paul echoes this directly in Ephesians 4:30: grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. The Old Testament precedent and the New Testament command are identical: God's Spirit is personal enough to be grieved by the behavior of God's people.
Therefore he was turned to be their enemy — the consequence of persistent rebellion and Spirit-grieving is catastrophic: God becomes the enemy. Turned (haphak — to overturn, to reverse) describes a complete reversal of relationship. The God who was their protector becomes their opponent. The one who fought for them now fights against them.
And he fought against them — God's warfare against his own people. The same power that defeated Egypt, parted the sea, and conquered Canaan is turned against Israel. The most powerful ally becomes the most dangerous adversary. There is no worse position than having God fight against you — because there is no power that can counter his.
The verse traces the trajectory: grace → rebellion → grieving the Spirit → God becoming the enemy. The progression is not instantaneous. It takes persistent, sustained rebellion to turn the God who loves you into the God who fights against you.
Reflection Questions
- 1.What does it mean that the Holy Spirit can be 'vexed' (grieved) — and what does this reveal about the Spirit's personhood?
- 2.How does the progression from grace to rebellion to God becoming 'their enemy' trace a trajectory you should fear?
- 3.What does it look like when God 'fights against' his own people — and how is this different from God fighting against outsiders?
- 4.How does Paul's command to 'grieve not the Holy Spirit' (Ephesians 4:30) connect to Isaiah's warning — and where might you be grieving the Spirit?
Devotional
They rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit. After everything God had done — the mercy of v.7, the kindness of v.9, the carrying and bearing of his people through their history — they rebelled. Not against a distant bureaucracy. Against the Holy Spirit — God's personal, intimate, indwelling presence. And they vexed him — grieved him, caused him pain.
The Holy Spirit can be grieved. That truth should stop you. God's Spirit is not a force or an energy. He is a person — and persons can be hurt. The rebellion of God's people does not bounce off the Spirit like water off stone. It wounds him. It causes pain. The God who chose to dwell among his people can be hurt by the people he dwells among.
Therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them. The reversal is complete. The God who fought for them — who defeated Pharaoh, who drowned armies, who conquered nations on their behalf — is turned. The protector becomes the opponent. The ally becomes the adversary. The power that saved them is now the power they face.
There is no worse condition than having God fight against you. Every other enemy can be endured because God is on your side. But when God himself becomes the enemy — when persistent rebellion has turned the one who fought for you into the one who fights against you — there is no refuge. The refuge has become the threat.
Paul says: grieve not the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30). The warning is the same. The Spirit who dwells in you can be grieved by you. The rebellion that feels like freedom is actually the path that turns your greatest ally into your opponent. Do not vex the one who fights for you. The alternative is having him fight against you.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
But they rebelled,.... Against the Lord, not withstanding he thought so well of them; did so many good things for them;…
But they rebelled - Against God. This charge is often made against the Jews; and indeed their history is little more…
And he fought against them - Twenty-six MSS. (ten ancient) and the first edition, with another, add the conjunction ו…
The prophet is here, in the name of the church, taking a review, and making a thankful recognition, of God's dealings…
The rebellion of the people, by which Jehovah is made to be their enemy, and their vain regrets. Comp. Deu 32:15 ff.
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture