Isaiah 31 - 3.24.23

Scripture

Isaiah 31:1

Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help,
    who rely on horses,
who trust in the multitude of their chariots
    and in the great strength of their horsemen,
but do not look to the Holy One of Israel,
    or seek help from the Lord.

Observation

What’s the problem with turning to Egypt for help? Imagine my 12 year old son Noah needs help carrying a couch up a flight of stairs. So he walks past me as I’m sitting at the dinner table and goes to get his friend from down the street to help him. His friend, who is also 12, talks about how he’s been working out and getting strong so Noah thinks this is the best option. But when they attempt to carry the couch upstairs, there’s a good chance that if they can even begin to lift it, someone is getting injured and crushed by that couch.

Israel has been walking right past their Father to get their shrimpy friend from down the street. They may admire their friend’s strength, but it doesn’t compare to their Father who is present with them, strong, and eager to help if asked.

Isaiah has been pronouncing some ‘woes’ against God’s people, and this one follows in line with the previous woe against those who make plans without consulting the Lord. Isaiah’s continual message to the people of Judah and Jerusalem is to stop trusting in human strength and wisdom, and instead to look to God! Seek God’s counsel, rely on his wisdom, pursue his strength, and ultimately put all your trust in him for everything you need.

Unfortunately the Israelites learned the hard way that Pharaoh was a “splintered reed.” They leaned on him like a staff, but instead of providing them strength and stability, he was a reed that splintered and pierced their hand (Isaiah 36).

Application

What ways do I walk straight past God and rely on my own strength or someone else’s?

-Last night I had a headache, and just now realized that I ran straight past God (didn’t pray) to grab the ibuprofen bottle.

-Other times, if my day is busy, the temptation can be to spend less time with God that morning because, “I don’t have time,” and just try to take care of my to-do list on my own.

-Or if I’m tired, there are times I run past God to an app on my phone or to the tv, trusting in those things to refresh me… and of course they never do like time spent with God.

Today, I choose to put this truth into practice by turning to God FIRST and asking for his help with everything happening today.

Prayer

God, forgive me for the ways I’ve ran past you, trusting in splintered reeds. You are all-powerful and my ever present help in time of need. I turn to you even now and ask that you would provide me with the strength, the wisdom, and all I need for today. Amen.

-Levi Thompson