Counsel and Strength

(Photo Credit: Krzystof (Kriss) Szkurlatowski)

“Woe to the rebellious children”, says Yahweh, “who take counsel, but not from me; and who make an alliance, but not with my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin, ² who set out to go down into Egypt, and have not asked my advice; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to take refuge in the shadow of Egypt! ³ Therefore the strength of Pharaoh will be your shame, and the refuge in the shadow of Egypt your confusion. – Isaiah 30:1-3 (World English Bible)

Where do you get your counsel from? Do you seek wisdom from the Word of God, or from other places? Do you base your concept of relationships on what you see in movies or television shows? (By the way, that’s probably not a good idea.)

In the scripture passage above, God is stating what happens when people seek do not seek Him. “Egypt” in this passage can be applied to the human-centered culture of the world. There have been times when I have looked to the rest of the world for counsel, instead of seeking the Lord. I chose my way because I did not want to change. I knew that I was supposed to bring myself to God, but didn’t. I preferred to stay where I was. Spiritually, I had chosen to sit still and not move forward in God. So although I didn’t intend to, I turned my heart away from God.

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. – John 3:19-20

In the short-term, it is easier to avoid God. In the long-term, life is much tougher and makes less sense. Why? Because God should be the source of our strength. We should not seek strength from ourselves, and not from the world. With God’s strength in us, working through us, we can get through anything. When we seek strength other than in the Lord, we get stuck in life, and it is hard to get “un-stuck”. Notice what Isaiah wrote later in Chapter 30:

For the Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I cried concerning this, Their strength is to sit still. – Isaiah 30:7

Prayer for today: Heavenly Father, I admit that I have often tried to build and guide my own life. I listened to the world instead of You. Please forgive me, and renew me in Your strength. I need Your wisdom, and I ask for you to lead me. In the name of Jesus, amen. Thank you, Lord.