It is ‘FOOLISHNESS’ not to TRUST in GOD ALONE!
July 26 Bible Reading: Isaiah Chapters 31-33
It is ‘FOOLISHNESS’ not to TRUST in GOD ALONE!
"Woe
to those who go down to Egypt for help, and rely on horses, who trust in
chariots because they are many, and in horsemen because they are very strong,
but who do not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek the Lord!"
(Isaiah 31:1)
In the above
verse, prophet Isaiah turns his attention to those who would advocate a
pro-Egyptian alliance for the protection of Judah, and announced condemnation
upon them. Egypt was the greatest and most powerful empire during the days of
Isaiah, and their greatest asset was their horses, chariots and horsemen. Their
horses were swift, their chariots were many and their horsemen were strong.
Together, they formed a formidable array of refuge and arsenal against the
enemy!
However,
when God looked at His own people (the Israelites); God saw that instead of
trusting in His might and strength, they were going down to Egypt for help. Their sin was trusting in Egypt’s military
might while refusing to seek help from God. Then, God responded by announcing
He would oppose the wicked, and the Egyptians and the Judeans would experience
military defeat at God’s hands.
In fact, Judah
thought they could be delivered by the Egyptian horses, chariots and horsemen.
God is against those who go to Egypt for help, who trust in horses, chariots
and in horsemen for victory. Egypt will stumble, and Judah will fall for
seeking help from ‘flesh and blood’. Egyptians
are men and their horses are flesh, in
contrast to God who is a Spirit. In other words, disaster awaits those who put their confidence in human and material
strength, rather than in the Lord!
For their
part, the Egyptians were only too eager to supply their neighbors to the north
with military horses and chariots. But through Isaiah God warned His people
about accepting such aid as the horses of Egypt can never take the place of the
chariots of God. From God’s perspective, appealing to Egypt for military
protection and help was a clear sign that His people were unwilling to trust
Him.
Today, let
us take a solemn pledge never to put our trust in humans, things or
institutions but only put our trust in our Almighty God. Let us look to God alone for help during times of trouble,
as the Psalmist did: "I will lift up
my eyes to the hills--from whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth" (Psalms 121:1-2). Let us put our trust and
confidence in God alone during every
moment of our earthly existence!
