Isaiah warns the Israelite people not to waste their time seeking assistance from Egypt or others to pull them through the war with Assyria. It is kind of astounding when one thinks about the enormity of that. These people were slaves to Egypt for 400 years. God upended Egypt to secure Israel’s release. He poured out the plagues, Killed Egypt’s firstborn, covered the soldiers with the walls of the Red sea. He led Israel, fed them, prepared them, and truly freed them. He provided them with their lands, crops, livestock, treasure, and peace.
Now, after hundreds of years of protection, provision, and preparation they were considering running back to their masters of Egypt and abandoning the one true protector that they relied upon for all that they possessed. Who would be that stupid? Sadly, the same people that worshiped golden calves when God was writing the law–literally right above them, and they knew it. The same people that worshipped Baal right after God showed them how useless of an idol Baal was on Mt Carmel.
God said NO! He would deal with Assyria and they would not recover. What is more, it would be obvious that God, not men, oversaw the nation of Israel. As rebellious as the nation was, He would accept their repentance and restore them–because He loves them. They would experience His love and grace–and, their enemies would experience the wrath of a loving father.
That promise holds true for us as well. God admonishes us not to look to the very world and culture out for our destruction, to provide our salvation. We need to seek Him, trust Him, and follow Him. He will then be able to provide the forgiveness and restoration that we need to enjoy and experience an abundant life and eternity in His presence. Sadly, too many times we turn to God as the last resort rather than to seek Him first and with an expectant heart. God warns us, like Israel, not to be ridiculous. He has our backs and we need to trust Him for that. In my heart, I am truly grateful for that warning and that truth!!!
God Bless You
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.2 Yet he too is wise and can bring disaster; he does not take back his words.He will rise up against that wicked nation, against those who help evildoers.3 But the Egyptians are mere mortals and not God; their horses are flesh and not spirit.When the Lord stretches out his hand, those who help will stumble, those who are helped will fall; all will perish together.
4 This is what the Lord says to me:“As a lion growls, a great lion over its prey—and though a whole band of shepherds is called together against it,it is not frightened by their shouts or disturbed by their clamor—so the Lord Almighty will come down to do battle on Mount Zion and on its heights.5 Like birds hovering overhead, the Lord Almighty will shield Jerusalem;he will shield it and deliver it, he will ‘pass over’ it and will rescue it.”
6 Return, you Israelites, to the One you have so greatly revolted against.
7 For in that day every one of you will reject the idols of silver and gold your sinful hands have made.8 “Assyria will fall by no human sword; a sword, not of mortals, will devour them.They will flee before the sword and their young men will be put to forced labor.9 Their stronghold will fall because of terror; at the sight of the battle standard their commanders will panic,”declares the Lord, whose fire is in Zion, whose furnace is in Jerusalem.
Walking With God 