“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
Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help. “Help” can be sought after in many forms and in many ways. The help of money, friends, knowledge, insurance, experience. There is backroom dealing, rule bending, favor calling. The old “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know” game. The help of the world, though tangible and available, can only take you so far. It has tremendous limitations and questionable results.
Egypt in this text was an example of the “help” of the world. Chariots, horses, armies, manpower. They had manpower, or better yet, Man’s power. Hezekiah was the king of Israel and was put in a situation where he needed some serious help. The mighty Assyrian army was conquering countries left and right, and he was next. It would be easy for him to be tempted to seek Egypt’s help against the Assyrian army. The Assyrian force was so overwhelming and powerful, how else would they possibly defeat them? How would they combat this mighty force without help? Furthermore, what harm would there be in sending an emissary to Egypt? Then the prophet Isaiah says “woe to them that go down to Egypt for help”; don’t take this route, or trust in this kind of help. His counsel was to seek the Lord. Hezekiah took this counsel and trusted in God against all odds. He gathered up the threats from the enemy and laid them out before the Lord in prayer. Asking for help. The Lord delivered him against impossible odds.
This is the example, go to the Lord in a time of need. There is no question we need help, no question we need God. Yet the devil would have us make excuses and feel like we need more and more of this world, because it can help us. Bankrupting ourselves spiritually to be sure that we are secure temporally. What comfort can the help of Egypt bring to a sin sick soul? How much money can mend a broken family? To give peace to the restless? Hope to the hopeless? Assurance to the uncertain? Would you defeat Satan and win heaven with might of carnality? Egypt, worldliness, it cannot help. Our help, our comfort, our salvation is in Jesus. It is from the Lord.
