He Chose Poorly Series

Isaiah 31: 1 – 0

He Chose Poorly

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 who do not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek the LORD! 2 Yet He also is wise and will bring disaster, and will not call back His words, but will arise against the house of evildoers, and against the help of those who work iniquity. 3 Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; And their horses are flesh, and not spirit. When the LORD stretches out His hand, both he who helps will fall, and he who is helped will fall down; They all will perish together. 4 For thus the LORD has spoken to me: “ As a lion roars, and a young lion over his prey (When a multitude of shepherds is summoned against him, he will not be afraid of their voice nor be disturbed by their noise), so the LORD of hosts will come down to fight for Mount Zion and for its hill. 5 Like birds flying about, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem. Defending, He will also deliver it; Passing over, He will preserve it.” 6 Return to Him against whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted. 7 For in that day every man shall throw away his idols of silver and his idols of gold—sin, which your own hands have made for yourselves. 8 “ Then Assyria shall fall by a sword not of man, and a sword not of mankind shall devour him. But he shall flee from the sword, and his young men shall become forced labor. 9 He shall cross over to his stronghold for fear, and his princes shall be afraid of the banner,” Says the LORD, whose fire is in Zion and whose furnace is in Jerusalem.

You can tell your friends that today you read a whole chapter in the Bible. Make sure you do not have to tell them that it is only nine verses long.

I believe probably the biggest sin next to pride is our failure to ‘trust’ our Heavenly Father. For most of us our position towards Him is, ‘what have You done for me lately.’ He has never forsaken us nor has failed to care for us, yet when the pressure hits we look to other sources for relief instead of resting and trusting in our Lord’s deliverance.

That is why the Bible is so alive today. Sure it was penned thousands of years ago, but its descriptions of human defects are as applicable today as it was in the past. It is for our learning and application.

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 who do not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek the LORD!

In the book of Proverbs chapter 3 we are instructed in how and why we need to cast all our cares on Him, “ 1 My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands; 2 For length of days and long life and peace they will add to you. 3 Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, 4 And so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”

In this small chapter we read of a big decision that the Israelites needed to make – trust. On one hand there are those in the majority of decision makers who fatally placed their trust in Egypt because of their horses and chariots. And on the other hand you have the prophet of God beseeching the people to trust Yahweh Elohe Yisrael – The Lord God of Israel.

It all come down to this simple choice – God’s Deliverance or Man’s Delusions

I love the Indiana Jones movies especially the first and third ones which deal religious artifacts. The third one was in pursuit of the Holy Grail. Towards the end of the movie Indiana Jones comes into a room where an old knight is protecting the Grail. On a table there a numerous cups and you have to pick the right one. If you pick the right grail then you, as the movie proclaims, will have eternal life. If you select the wrong chalice then life will be taken from you. The evil guy took this jewel laden chalice from this pretty German woman and took a drink. I love the words of the old night when the evil guy just disintegrated. He said, ‘He chose poorly.’