WHEN GOD’S STRATEGY IS THE ONLY BEST OPTION

(A series in the book of Isaiah: Chapter 31)

God does things in ways beyond our mere eyes can see and beyond the human mind can understand. In every assault of danger, man would naturally find security in the number and strength of horses, weapons, and allies. Strategies are a big portion of life in battling with difficulties and hardships. Actual war zones needed strategies of taking advantage over an enemy—this is the primary goal of fighting against a circumstance, a conflict, a hardship, and a war. Our goal is to win over and not be defeated. Our goal in every trying situation is to win and not to be at a disadvantage that is why we strategize everything. We then look at what works best for others and conclude that it must also work best with my case.

This is what humans can immediately if laid onto our own wisdom. We think many times that strategies that worked with others will surely work for us. Isaiah chapter 31 points us God’s say on the actions of His people to take refuge in the horses and fighting men of the neighboring nations, especially to Egypt.

God’s people must have felt very inferior because they have lost their eyes on what the Lord can do for them. As they continued to live in disobedience to God and rebellion against His will, the people have lost sight of the power of God to deliver them. Things have just been so normal and natural that a spiritual intervention from their God seems too irrelevant to entertain in comparison to the powers their neighboring nations have—chariots and horses.

Isaiah 31:1-3 says,

1Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help,

who rely on horses,

who trust in the multitude of their chariots

and in the great strength of their horsemen,

but do not look to the Holy One of Israel,

or seek help from the Lord.

2 Yet he too is wise and can bring disaster;

he does not take back his words.

He will rise up against that wicked nation,

against those who help evildoers.

3 But the Egyptians are mere mortals and not God;

their horses are flesh and not spirit.

When the Lord stretches out his hand,

those who help will stumble,

those who are helped will fall;

all will perish together.

All the enemy nations of God, that the people are thinking to seek refuge to, will be destroyed. As they continue to reject God and His leadings, the time of their end will surely come in the hands of God. God has given them the precious chance but they repeatedly refused His pleadings. God pleaded for their repentance.

Friends, there may be a time in our lives when we feel like hurrying to a solution to resolve our problems and conflicts. There may be several times when you feel like strategizing your way out of a circumstance and pursue what you believe as right. I did many times, many times it worked, and many times it didn’t.

In today’s reflection with Isaiah 31, God is giving us the statement that He is able and He is even presenting Himself to every seeker and everyone who believes in His ability to deliver and His ability to rescue. Basically, God’s strategy works differently from our strategy, however, it is worth the try.

It is so much worth my trust. I was once an expert in strategizing my life but when I was offered a different perspective of life in God, although, I hesitantly tried it, I tasted that what God wrote in the Bible is never a lie. When HE SAID "TRUST ME," IT IS FOR REAL...