Looking For Help in All the Wrong Places
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It is easy to become overwhelmed with all that life is throwing your way, and become discouraged. Sometimes help seems nowhere in sight and God is not listening. You’ve moved so far from Him, or you think He has moved so far from you.
In the book of Isaiah, the Southern Kingdom of Judah is in a mess. They have political leaders who are full of themselves, unrepentant, and idolatrous. In their arrogance, they refuse to even consider the possibility that the reason their kingdom is falling apart is because they are far away from God.
They have religious leaders who are no better. There are a few men like Isaiah who preach truth to the people and the politicians, but their words are not heeded. The Nation finds itself scampering around trying to solve their own problems, partnering up with Nations that don’t line up with anything Judah is supposed to be about. Isaiah keeps faithfully warning Judah not to place their confidence in the wrong place, and not to look for help among those that are under God’s judgment, those who stand against the things of God.
He also keeps faithfully encouraging them to trust in the Lord, pointing out that God has a future plan for them.
As we continue to study through Isaiah, and bring 2017 to a close, the lessons of Isaiah are a good reminder for us as well:
Don’t rely on things God will judge
Don’t rely on things God will judge
I will deliver Egypt into the hands of harsh masters, and a strong king will rule it. This is the declaration of the Lord God of Hosts.
Egypt internally unstable. 1-5.... Think about people and things that you thought were dependable and reliable until you got to know them, and you realized they were messed up than you!
Egypt drying up economically 5-10… God’s judgment on Egypt would effect their crops, including the Nile drying up.
Egypt’s wisdom doesn’t compare to the Lord’s…11-15. Verse 11 even says that Egypt’s counselors give stupid advise. Think of all the gurus people flock to looking for wisdom that is actually contrary to what God teaches. This brings us to a question: Can we trust the Lord as revealed in His Word? And the answer is yes! Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the Lord our God!
Don’t be ruled by things that you should rule.
Don’t be ruled by things that you should rule.
On that day there will be an altar to the Lord in the center of the land of Egypt and a pillar to the Lord near her border.
Isaiah turns his attention to the future. “In that day” appears 5 times in this passage. The phrase points to a future time when Egypt will worship the Lord just like Judah is supposed to.
As followers of Jesus is a temptation to fall into the trap of following the world. We have to keep reminding ourselves to stay in the fight against the world, the flesh, and the Devil in our own hearts.
We have to keep reminding ourselves that the goal is to walk with the Lord, believing that every knee will bow to Him. We can’t get allow ourselves to chase after things of the world, and let the world define what we value, what we think, and what we prioritize.
Or don’t you know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest cases?
Don’t you know that we will judge angels—not to mention ordinary matters?
Don’t rely on things that ultimately won’t help.
Don’t rely on things that ultimately won’t help.
the Lord said, “As My servant Isaiah has gone naked and barefoot three years as a sign and omen against Egypt and Cush,
If you have ever studied the book of Ezekiel you know that prophet did some pretty bizarre things to get his point across:
Here God tells Isaiah to walk around half-naked to illustrate how Egypt will be led into captivity.
(Aren’t you glad your preacher is not doing this?)
It was an “in your face” way of getting attention.
The point being illustrated: Don’t trust in Egypt, they can’t help. Don’t trust in Egypt, they too need help.
Question: What have you turned to for help OVER the Lord? What are you relying on? Is it your wit? Is it your wealth? Is it your skill? Is it your credit worthiness? Is it your own wisdom? Is it the wisdom of this world?
Think of what has happened in your life this last year, and what is brewing in 2018 and ask yourself: Who are what have I trusted in, instead of the Lord?