A Spiritual Guide

Your Faith in God 08.07.08

Hello My Friend/Guest,

It is Thursday August 7, 2008 and today we are continuing our studies on the book of Isaiah. Please read Chapters 27-31 in your Bible or Click Here to read. Cut & Paste to your browser: biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2027-31&version=9

Today we will read and learn about the judgment of Ephraim; Jerusalem’s warning; Israel’s rebuke for its alliance with Egypt; and their future destiny assured. Today’s message focuses on the importance of realizing that we need to have faith in God. He is the One that created all things and can do what seems to us to be impossible.

The magnificent northern kingdom of Israel was enjoying great prosperity when the Lord led Isaiah to prophesy its coming captivity by Assyria. “And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall beat off from the channel of the river unto the stream of Egypt, and ye shall be gathered one by one, O ye children of Israel. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the LORD in the holy mount at Jerusalem.” (Isaiah 27:12-13).

Isaiah declared, “Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower, which are on the head of the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine! Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one, which as a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall cast down to the earth with the hand. The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden under feet: And the glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley, shall be a fading flower, and as the hasty fruit before the summer; which when he that looketh upon it seeth, while it is yet in his hand he eateth it up.” (28:1-4).

Fearing an Assyrian attack, King Hezekiah sent his ambassadors to Egypt with a large amount of wealth. They were requesting military aid and desiring to make a treaty with Egypt, a nation that had been a great world power for centuries. From a human point of view, this seemed to be the only possible means of security against Assyria. Egypt had a great military system, including numerous chariots and horses. In addition, Ethiopia was closely associated with Egypt, and the combined armies of these two powerful nations would seem invincible. However, Isaiah warned them against seeking aid from the wrong people. “Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin: That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt! Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion.” (30:1-3).

When danger threatens, do we immediately seek counsel of our friends and professional advisers? Or do we, through daily searching of His Word, discern God’s principles of direction and then, in prayer, trust Him wholeheartedly to enlighten our understanding concerning the specific problem before us?

We can praise the Lord that while there is life, there is still hope. We make the mistake of trying to do what we think is right instead of putting our faith in God only to fall even more. However, God will never let us suffer with anything that we cannot handle or get out of. Therefore it is important for us to live by faith. ”For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:7).

In today’s reading Jesus Christ is revealed through a tried Stone, a precious Corner Stone, a sure foundation (Isaiah 28:16). Jesus became the Chief Corner Stone.

Today’s Prayer:
Dear Lord,
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from You. As recipients of Your tender compassions and tremendous comfort help us to be like cisterns pouring out the mercies we receive from You into the lives of those who desperately need it.

Have a great and blessed day!
God Bless,
Christina

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