"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)
There are too many today, "who go down to Egypt for help...." It just seems easier than trying to get God to do what they want. They are like Saul, who, when God did not answer him, ended up in the occult. Now this may seem absurd to us, but this has happened to more people than we may imagine, even people who were once "evangelical Christians." Desperate people do desperate things when life is not going their way; and the more desperate the situation, the more they do that which earlier they would have denied their ever even imagining.
"Egypt," to the backslider, the self-reliant who have strayed away from Jesus Christ, seems bigger, more powerful, more "now" than Jesus Christ Himself. Of course, when in our right mind, we know this to be folly. But how many times we can get out of a "right" mind and succumb to the philosophy of Thomas, "unless I see," and into what Mr. Spock said, "I only believe the provable, the graphable." It is a daily battle to walk in the Truth of, "while we do not look at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen." We can see, "Egypt," and, "horses," and, "chariots...many," and, "horsemen."
To see Jesus Christ, His Kingdom, His, "exceeding great and precious promises," requires the Holy Spirit and total submission to, "the Words of God."
I know I refer to this passage often, but it bears repeating for us all, "For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal." This is why, for instance, millions of so-called "christians" did not vote in the last election, or why some religious folk voted for candidates which promised quick, easy fixes to their life's problems. This will lead to just more and more frustration in humanity. Just look at what is going on in Europe, and you will see what awaits America. Look at the frustration of those around you who refuse the reign of Jesus Christ in their life, and we can see the utter futility of going, "down to Egypt for help." Physical eyes see "Egypt;" spiritual eyes see Jesus Christ.
Today, the call of the Holy Spirit in our text is, "Look to the Holy One of Israel," and, "seek the Lord Jesus Christ." This is the constant command and invitation of the Living Triune God throughout the Bible. I need to hear this throughout every day, and thank Him, He speaks it continually to you and me.
Father, in Jesus' Name, I have gone, "down to Egypt," at times to my own hurt---- futility. Only You are Reliable. Amen.
There are too many today, "who go down to Egypt for help...." It just seems easier than trying to get God to do what they want. They are like Saul, who, when God did not answer him, ended up in the occult. Now this may seem absurd to us, but this has happened to more people than we may imagine, even people who were once "evangelical Christians." Desperate people do desperate things when life is not going their way; and the more desperate the situation, the more they do that which earlier they would have denied their ever even imagining.
"Egypt," to the backslider, the self-reliant who have strayed away from Jesus Christ, seems bigger, more powerful, more "now" than Jesus Christ Himself. Of course, when in our right mind, we know this to be folly. But how many times we can get out of a "right" mind and succumb to the philosophy of Thomas, "unless I see," and into what Mr. Spock said, "I only believe the provable, the graphable." It is a daily battle to walk in the Truth of, "while we do not look at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen." We can see, "Egypt," and, "horses," and, "chariots...many," and, "horsemen."
To see Jesus Christ, His Kingdom, His, "exceeding great and precious promises," requires the Holy Spirit and total submission to, "the Words of God."
I know I refer to this passage often, but it bears repeating for us all, "For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal." This is why, for instance, millions of so-called "christians" did not vote in the last election, or why some religious folk voted for candidates which promised quick, easy fixes to their life's problems. This will lead to just more and more frustration in humanity. Just look at what is going on in Europe, and you will see what awaits America. Look at the frustration of those around you who refuse the reign of Jesus Christ in their life, and we can see the utter futility of going, "down to Egypt for help." Physical eyes see "Egypt;" spiritual eyes see Jesus Christ.
Today, the call of the Holy Spirit in our text is, "Look to the Holy One of Israel," and, "seek the Lord Jesus Christ." This is the constant command and invitation of the Living Triune God throughout the Bible. I need to hear this throughout every day, and thank Him, He speaks it continually to you and me.
Father, in Jesus' Name, I have gone, "down to Egypt," at times to my own hurt---- futility. Only You are Reliable. Amen.
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
