“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!” Isaiah 31:1 NKJV
Reflection: what is the purpose of a military alliance like NATO?
Yesterday the President of the United States gave “the state of the union” address. You might have watched it. Regardless of your political views, the President made an interesting observation. On the one hand, he talked on multiple occasions about the military might of the United States, second to none in the world. Several examples were brought up that demonstrate both the strength and the determination of the American military might. But in the same speech, the President also talked about how so many across the nation are (re)turning to God. He mentioned an example of a soldier had been shot in the head while on guard duty in Washington DC. And while all hope to save his life seemed gone, his mother prayed and believed that he would be fine. Through a miracle, the man was raised again, and glory was given to God before the nation, by the President himself.
While we don’t know the heart of the President, we see this apparent dichotomy of military might and trust in God. That there are some things we can do as humans, and some we realize are outside of our control, our abilities. So where does that line go, for our nation, and for you and I? What I mean is, what things do do we try to solve ourselves, perhaps even without consulting God, and when do we realize we need God?
We are met with such a situation in Isaiah 31 today, starting with our focus verse. We read “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!” Isaiah 31:1 NKJV. Egypt was at the time the most advanced and powerful nation in the world, much like the United States is today. But they were also a very secular nation, full of idols, elevating and worshipping man (Pharaoh was worshipped as a god), and man’s achievements (such as the great pyramids). So, for a small nation being threatened by a more powerful neighbor, we can understand why they would be tempted to turn to Egypt to build a military alliance. Just like small nations in Europe being in alliance with United States. So what was the problem?
The people turned to Egypt because of their impressive military might and worldly wisdom, and did that instead of turning to God, “But who do not look to the Holy One of Israel, Nor seek the Lord!” Isaiah 31:1b NKJV.
The Lord then explains that “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. 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.” Isaiah 31:2-3 NKJV. Did you notice the “military might” comparison that God makes here? That the Egyptian soldiers are mere men, and their horses are only flesh, compared to the army of God. It is not even a fight. You also see here that God will not be mocked; “Both he who helps will fall, And he who is helped will fall down; They all will perish together.” Isaiah 31:3b NKJV.
And, there are deep lessons for all of us here today. Certainly at the level of nations, that we understand that despite the impressive military might of nations like the United States, the army of the Lord is so much greater. And, secondly, we must turn to and seek the Lord first, regardless. To surrender before the Lord. But, to make this much more personal and practical, I think this starts with each of us. Are we turning to the Lord for His guidance and His help in our lives, before we turn to make an alliance with man? He is bigger and stronger than any of our financial or health institutions, greater than any of our governments.
Remember, He is the one who said ““Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6:31-34 NKJV