Isaiah 31-33, Proverbs 24:1-22, Luke 22:54-62, Hebrews 7:11-28  

Isaiah 31-33:  

One significant theme echoes throughout Isaiah 31-33 as it is introduced in the very first verse (31:1):  

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! 

Israel was tempted to rely on Egypt—the local superpower—and to rely on horses, the cavalry, and chariots, the equivalent of tanks and brigades of armored forces. All these looked “very strong.”

It is so easy for us, too, to “rely” upon such things, to look to that which seems evidently to be “strong,” and to do what seems therefore the most natural and sensible thing to do, but which is, nonetheless, not the most sensible and realistic course of action.

How hard it is for us to look beyond the obvious, beyond the mere natural man’s equation of force and power in this world, and see instead who is greater than any of those powers, and align ourselves with and rely upon him.

Their tendency to run to Egypt, rather than look to God or consult with the Lord, seems absurd. But how often do we turn to prayer first before we turn elsewhere for help? How often do we turn to the Bible first before we turn to other sources of counsel for help?

Let us, this morning, seek God in prayer and in his Word, rely upon him as that which we most need, and consult with him. How many churches would be in greater health if they relied upon the teaching of the Bible, rather than the latest fad by some popular teaching coming out of some well-known college or university! How many individuals would be in greater health if they took the time to pray about decisions before making their decisions! How many families would be in greater health if they consulted God first and constructed their family life around God, rather than taking the cue from what seems most expedient at any given moment!

Rely on God, consult him; don’t rely on Egypt.