Trust in the Lord

Scripture: Isaiah 31:1 (ESV)

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!

 

Devotion:

            Let us turn to the prophet Isaiah for more wisdom. This scripture warns those who seek to rely on the strength of military power alone to provide safety. No one who trusts in weapons of war to bring peace will prevail in the long run. Today, our world seeks a mighty fighting force equipped with the latest war-making technology and machinery. Those who seek protection from God are seen as hopelessly behind the times. In today’s scripture, the Israelites were seeking an alliance with Egypt to provide them security as the armies of Assyria threatened them.

            Today, our society has military alliances for mutual security between the parties. We are not so different from the people Isaiah addressed. Just as they sought Egypt's help, America formed NATO for its defense. After the mid to late twentieth century, America impressed itself and the world with the strength of its armed forces. It seemed America was a world power with only one real rival, the Soviet Union. However, America should have realized that its security was not from the works of humans but God's providence.

            We are living in difficult times. Wars rage overseas, and domestically, we are alienated from each other because of class, race, and politics. These domestic troubles seem to be leading to the possibility of civil war. The world seems to be enveloped in darkness, leading to the breakdown of all the institutions we depend on to bring us life and hope for the future. Even the church is in a difficult place, torn apart by struggles inside and pressures from the outside. Its future seems grim. All this is happening because we have gone our own way and have not looked to God for help.

            What, then, should we do? First, we must seek God’s will for us as a country. Our problems, both overseas and domestically, are such that human wisdom alone will not be effective in solving them. We must dig into the word of God deeply and prayerfully, asking God’s help and favor to end the scourge of violence and hatred that has wrapped itself around our lives. As a church, we need likewise to seek God’s counsel and guidance. We need to ask God to help us be peacemakers both between the nations and between neighbors. Let us pray for God’s presence and light in this present darkness.

Prayer:

            Lord, we bring the world and ourselves before your throne today. All of creation is not as it should be, and humanity may be on the brink of disastrous conflict. Teach us to walk in the path laid out for us by Jesus. All Jesus said and did was only what was good for the building up of the kingdom of God on earth. May we be likewise dedicated to the task of kingdom-building and peacemaking. Amen.