FOLLY OF TRUSTING IN MAN

TEXT: ISAIAH 36:1-10.
🔑KEY VERSE “Lo, thou trusts in the staff of this broken reed, on Egypt; whereon if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all that trust in him” (ISAIAH 36:6).

The foolishness of trusting in man becomes real and pronounced these days as many more people are experiencing disappointments, betrayals, trials and challenges of life. The Lord says, woe to them that go down to Egypt for help and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are very strong, but they look not unto the Holy one of Israel, neither seek the Lord.

Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, taunted Judah and Hezekiah for trusting in Egypt. Rabshakeh, the ambassador to the proud monarch, came with a message of threat to further intimidate Hezekiah and to humiliate Judah for their trust in Egypt. The ambassador of the Assyrian king asked: “what confidence is this wherein thou trusts?” It was a statement of mockery against Hezekiah and the people of Judah for the step taken to ask help from Egypt.

None should think that his situation is so bad that there is no hope. Believers must pray in faith and expect miraculous divine intervention in every challenging situation of life instead of putting their trust in man. Trials, threats, hatred and persecution from seemingly higher power will fade away when God is trusted and allowed to take charge of the situation.

Christians should not organise their lives around human promise, advice or support. They should rather reflect on God’s unchanging promises. He is more than sufficient to redeem and to save to the uttermost. Hezekiah’s eventual deliverance proved that he did not actually depend on Egypt as alleged but on the God of Israel who gives victory.

✍THOUGHT FOR THE DAY They that trust in God will never be ashamed.

BIBLE IN A YEAR: LEVITICUS 1-4.

MEDITATION

Psychological warfare (PW)

1. Satanic PW is meant to instil fear and weaken the
   resolve of the fighters in the face of repeated attacks from their enemies v4.
2. The method is to belittle their God and exalt the God of Israel vv4,5,6,7. “They that know their God shall be strong and do exploits”
3. Empty psychogical boasting in view of the fact that PW is for pretending coward vv8,9,10.
   Give grace to always be valiant in battle
   I ask for the power that put Satan where he belongs with all his activities
   Locate passages where God said “fear not”
   4 Look at the next subtle attack on Satan v7. He tried to use the word of God to creating guilty conscience contrary to the word of God. Be very familiar with the word of God.

HYMN To the work, to the work

1. To the work! to the work! we are servants of God,
   Let us follow the path that our Master has trod;
   With the might of His power our strength to renew,
   Let us do by His grace what He calls us to do.
   Work for Him by His grace;
   Work thru Him for His praise;
   Work with Him all the days;
   And work in Him in many ways.
   2
   To the work! to the work! let the hungry be fed;
   To the fountain of life let the thirsty be led;
   In the cross and its vict’ry our glory shall be,
   While we herald the tidings, “Salvation is free!”
   3
   To the work! to the work! in the strength of the Lord,
   By the pow’r of His Name, with the light of His Word,
   All the slaves of the darkness of Satan set free
   And His riches of grace in His glory we’ll see.