Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help,
Isaiah 31:1 NIV
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.
In the time of the prophet Isaiah, Assyria was the primary threat the nation of Judah faced. Assyria had already conquered many of Judah’s neighbors to the north, and Judah was desperate to find allies who would enable her to stand against the Assyrian threat. And the most logical ally was Egypt, a powerful neighbor to their south.
But God warned Judah that it was a bad idea. The problem was not that they were looking to their defense. It was that they were looking in the wrong place. The first place they should have looked was to God, the Holy One of Israel.
God’s message through Isaiah is just as relevant for me today as it was for Judah many years ago. In whom, or what, is my trust? Do I trust my nation’s military to protect us from outside threats? Do I trust the local police force and security systems to protect my home and family? Am I trusting in a steady retirement check and robust economy to ensure the standard of living I have grown accustomed to? I have to answer yes to all of that and more.
But all of those are to no avail if my trust is not first and foremost in the Lord. All the other things I might trust in can let me down. But God never will. When I look to him first, I have no reason to fear what might happen in the world around me. I can trust that he will care for me even if I lose my retirement income, my house burns down, or my health deteriorates. Put your hope and trust in God, looking to the Holy One of Israel. He will never let you down, even when all else fails.
