Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.

Proverbs 3:5

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 horseman, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the Lord. (Isaiah 31:1) These are words penned by the prophet Isaiah describing Israel’s reliance on Egypt, which represented wealth, false security, prosperity, and human wisdom. It is interesting to me that in former years, the Israelites had served as slaves to the Egyptians who were hard taskmasters. Yet they quickly wanted to go back to Egypt when the going got rough: But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, “Why did you bring us out of Egypt to make us and our children die of thirst? (Exodus 17:3) How quickly the Israelites forgot their life of slavery as they remembered the “benefits” of Egypt.

We can easily become enslaved by forgetting the Lord and relying on “things” or “human wisdom” to bring us peace and understanding. Our only true peace comes through trusting in the Lord. God, in His infinite mercy and love, sent us Jesus Christ to be a precious Cornerstone for a sure foundation.

(Isaiah 28:16) We are promised that when we put our trust in Him, Egypt cannot have a hold on us.

What have you put your trust in? What things represent the “chariots and horses” of Egypt? Egypt’s wealth lured the people into thinking that freedom comes from wealth, when in fact they were enslaved in the midst of an affluent society. Their security was in the things that Egypt represented, but they had forgotten their God. The Lord is calling you to trust in Him alone; only in Him is there true freedom.

Heavenly Father,

I have trusted in the things of this world to give me peace and security. The more I have, the less I look to You as my source of peace and freedom. Help me to keep my eyes on You and not be lured into false security by the things of this world.

In Jesus’ name, Amen