Daily Devotional

A Ministry of the Kerwin Baptist Church

August 21, 2018

by Pastor Hawtree

I AM PERSUADED THAT HE IS ABLE:

TO BE TRUSTWORTHY

Isaiah 31:1 Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD! ………
3 Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When the LORD shall stretch out his hand, both he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is holpen shall fall down, and they all shall fail together.

“Woe to them”
“Woe” is an interesting word. It is a word of “amazement”. You use this word when you do not really know how else to say it. The first time I got a look at the mountains and vista of Yosemite National Park, all I could say was “Woe”. The first time I saw my wife, all I could say was “WOE”. I did not know how else to say what I was thinking. It is also a word of “danger”. It means to stop and consider before continuing. It means that there might be some danger if you do not stop. Many times, in my life I have directed someone as they’re backing up a vehicle to a certain point and you yell “woe”, which means stop right there. It is also a word of “warning” or “instruction”. It tells an individual what is going to happen if you do not make a change, or what is going to happen if you do what certain others have done. This passage gives us a warning, and more specifically, a warning to the Children of Israel. It is a warning against putting your trust in anyone or anything other than God.

“that go down to Egypt for help”
Egypt was always a sign and picture of bondage in the Word of God. You’re always going in the wrong direction when you go to Egypt. You’re always heading down. Why would someone go to Egypt for help? It makes me ask another question, why would someone go to the “world” for help. You see, verse three tells us that the Egyptians were men, but they were not God. Men let you down. Men fail you. Men make promises that they cannot keep. Men are limited. There may be people that mean well, mean a lot to you, and who will try their hardest, but they cannot do what God can do. Do you need help today? Don’t go to this world, and do not completely rely on people. Go to where you can fully trust and rely upon the help you need. Go to God. It is fine to connect with people, just don’t let your happiness and contentment depend on them. Eventually, any person will let you down, even though they try not to. God is trustworthy. Go to Him. I encourage you today, why don’t you spend more time connecting with God today than you spend connecting to others.