The prophet Isaiah was sent to the people of Israel to try and get them to turn back to God, putting all their trust in Him. In chapter thirty-one of Isaiah the prophet begins by telling of those who trusted in the horses and chariots of Egypt rather than trusting in God.
In rebuke of this type of thinking Isaiah said, “Now the Egyptians are men, and not God, and their horses’ flesh, and not spirit. When the LORD shall stretch out his hand, both he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is holpen shall fall down, and they all shall fail together” (Isa. 3:3).
What an eye-opening experience it must have been to this people when the mighty nation of Assyria attacked Israel and Egypt failed to come to their aid.
Today many are making the same mistake that was made by Israel. They trust in “physical things” rather than putting their trust in God.
All the physical things of this life will one day be gone. Some may last longer than others but sooner or later they will be gone also.
Some are trusting only in themselves. They seem to believe that they, by themselves have accomplished everything.
There is folly in that type of thinking. The apostle Paul while talking to the people at Athens spoke of God that “made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; … For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, (Acts 17:24-29). Without God we would not have life itself, we would not have the air we breathe or sustenance to keep us alive. All depend upon God.
Sadly many trust in drugs and alcohol to be their “strength”. Substance abuse strikes all ages. Satan’s nectar lies to the individual giving them false self esteem and courage. Their “strength” lasts only as long as the substance’s influence on their mind.
The Proverb writer put it this way, “At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things. Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast. They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again” ( Prov. 23:3235).
All men need to learn to trust in God, rather than in other things. God can and will deliver all who trust in Him and obey His commands. May we all look to His word to guide our every step (Psalm 119:105).