Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Isaiah+031
Chapter 31 (ESV)
1 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 do not look to the Holy One of Israel
or consult the Lord!
2 And yet he is wise and brings disaster;
he does not call back his words,
but will arise against the house of the evildoers
and against the helpers of those who work iniquity.
3 The Egyptians are man, and not God,
and their horses are flesh, and not spirit.
When the Lord stretches out his hand,
the helper will stumble, and he who is helped will fall,
and they will all perish together.
REFLECTION:
- Read the passages four or five times. Don’t rush through it. Get familiar with it.
- We don’t count on horses and chariots to protect us today like in ancient times. But there are countless things we put our trust in.
- Consider the circumstances in your life when you have depended on something or someone other than God. If God and God alone provides ultimate security and comfort, why do you think we turn to him for help only as a last resort? If we truly understood God’s power and control – his sovereignty – how might that change how we live?
- Spend a few minutes in quiet and solitude. Use the time to seek out the dark corners of your life. Whisper, “What do I put my trust in”? Allow the Spirit to do his work. Don’t rush the process, but simply wait for him to reveal the horses and chariots you depend on. When you see them clearly, confess them to God immediately. Be assured that he hears your prayers and forgives you graciously.
PRAYER:
Stay with God for a little longer. Continue to converse with God and listen to what He wants to tell you. Then write down any thought and/or prayer in your spiritual journal.
HYMN:
In God We Trust – youtu.be/tY9Tylmulrc
