Making a Differencewith Pastor Phil Erickson

Aug 5th, 2012 Trust in the Lord

Today’s Passage – Isaiah 29 – 32 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text)

(Second Milers also read – John 3 – 4; Psalms 21 – 25; Proverbs 5)

Scripture Memory for July – John 3:1 – 21

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song –Matthew 6:33

Read a previous post from this passage – “All Talk”

Read “Baptists and the Holy Spirit” by Paul Chappell

“Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!” – (Isaiah 31:1)

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” – (Proverbs 3:5 & 6 KJV)

In our passage today, God is warning the people of Judah not to place their trust in the nation of Egypt for protection, but rather to place their trust in Him. The context of this passage was most likely during the reign of King Hezekiah. During his time as king, Judah was threatened by the Assyrian army; and apparently Isaiah was tempted to hire the Egyptians to come and help him. God warned Hezekiah to put his trust in Him, and not look to Egypt for help.

Throughout the Bible, Egypt is a picture or type of the world. God is very clear hat we as Christians are not to place our trust, nor our affections, in the world:

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” – (1 John 2:15-17)

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” – (Romans 12:2)

It has always amazed me that so many Christians will seek the world’s help when they are in trouble, and will also follow the world’s advice when faced with making decisions. A good example of this is in the area of child-rearing. The Bible is filled with principles regarding what we should do when raising children, yet we will often listen to the advice of the secular “wise men” even though their advice is totally contrary to what God told us in His Word. The world says that we shouldn’t spank our children, yet God is clear that we ought to lovingly use corporal punishment when training our kids. This is just one area where we often trust what the world says rather than what God commands. There are many other examples that I could cite, but I think you get the idea.

Whose advice do you listen to? Do you believe what God says, or not? We need to place our trust in God, and His Word. He knows what is best for us:

“Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.” – (Psalm 100:3)